Cardiopulmonary Mortality and Fine Particulate Air Pollution by Species and Source in a National U.S. Cohort

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to estimate cardiopulmonary mortality associations for long-term exposure to PM2.5 species and sources (i.e., components) within the U.S. National Health Interview Survey cohort. Exposures were estimated through a chemical transport model for six species (i.e., elemental carbon (EC), primary organic aerosols (POA), secondary organic aerosols (SOA), sulfate (SO4), ammonium (NH4), nitrate (NO3)) and five sources of PM2.5 (i.e., vehicles, electricity-generating units (EGU), non-EGU industrial sources, biogenic sources (bio), “other” sources). In single-pollutant models, we found positive, significant (p < 0.05) mortality associations for all components, except POA. After adjusting for remaining PM2.5 (total PM2.5 minus component), we found significant mortality associations for EC (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.36; 95% CI [1.12, 1.64]), SOA (HR = 1.11; 95% CI [1.05, 1.17]), and vehicle sources (HR = 1.06; 95% CI [1.03, 1.10]). HRs for EC, SOA, and vehicle sources were significantly larger in comparison to those for remaining PM2.5 (per unit μg/m3). Our findings suggest that cardiopulmonary mortality associations vary by species and source, with evidence that EC, SOA, and vehicle sources are important contributors to the PM2.5 mortality relationship. With further validation, these findings could facilitate targeted pollution regulations that more efficiently reduce air pollution mortality.

Updated World Health Organization Air Quality Guidelines Highlight the Importance of Non-anthropogenic PM2.5

“…As a result, policy makers and regulators have developed PM 2.5 exposure guidelines based on epidemiological estimates of disease burdens from unspeciated PM 2.5 . However, recent work has indicated that PM 2.5 toxicity might vary significantly by aerosol composition and source. − More research is thus urgently required to estimate the speciated health burdens of PM 2.5 to accurately inform the next generation of exposure guidelines. The modeled heterogeneity in global PM 2.5 composition in this study indicates that estimates of human health impacts that do not consider PM 2.5 composition may be in considerable error, especially in understudied regions (or under future emission regimes).…”

Seasonal and Spatial Variations of PM10 and PM2.5 Oxidative Potential in Five Urban and Rural Sites across Lombardia Region, Italy

“…Particulate matter (PM) is one of the most critical pollutants in the atmosphere, as it has been found to be associated with increased human morbidity and mortality, mainly related to cardio-respiratory diseases [1][2][3]. Although the specific mechanisms of PM-induced health effects are still largely unknown, there is increasing consensus that they involve oxidative stress through the generation of excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) and/or inadequate antioxidant defenses [4][5][6][7][8][9][10].…”

Linking gas, particulate, and toxic endpoints to air emissions in the Community Regional Atmospheric Chemistry Multiphase Mechanism (CRACMM) version 1.0

“…Recent work indicates that preferentially controlling emissions of ROC could yield significant health benefits by mitigating the mortality associated with ambient air pollution in the U.S. (Pye et al, 2022). These benefits come primarily from reductions in SOA which is strongly associated with cardiorespiratory mortality (Pye et al, 2021;Pond et al, 2022). ROC also includes hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) such as benzene and formaldehyde that result in cancer and noncancer risks to health (Scheffe et al, 2016).…”