Particulate Matter and Premature Mortality: A Bayesian Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background: We present a systematic review of studies assessing the association between ambient particulate matter (PM) and premature mortality and the results of a Bayesian hierarchical meta-analysis while accounting for population differences of the included studies. Methods: The review protocol was registered in the PROSPERO systematic review registry. Medline, CINAHL and Global Health databases were systematically searched. Bayesian hierarchical meta-analysis was conducted using a non-informative prior to assess whether the regression coefficients differed across observations due to the heterogeneity among studies. Results: We identified 3248 records for title and abstract review, of which 309 underwent full text screening. Thirty-six studies were included, based on the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies were from China (n = 14), India (n = 6) and the USA (n = 3). PM2.5 was the most frequently reported pollutant. PM was estimated using modelling techniques (22 studies), satellite-based measures (four studies) and direct measurements (ten studies). Mortality data were sourced from country-specific mortality statistics for 17 studies, Global Burden of Disease data for 16 studies, WHO data for two studies and life tables for one study. Sixteen studies were included in the Bayesian hierarchical meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed that the annual estimate of premature mortality attributed to PM2.5 was 253 per 1,000,000 population (95% CI: 90, 643) and 587 per 1,000,000 population (95% CI: 1, 39,746) for PM10. Conclusion: 253 premature deaths per million population are associated with exposure to ambient PM2.5. We observed an unstable estimate for PM10, most likely due to heterogeneity among the studies. Future research efforts should focus on the effects of ambient PM10 and premature mortality, as well as include populations outside Asia. Key messages: Ambient PM2.5 is associated with premature mortality. Given that rapid urbanization may increase this burden in the coming decades, our study highlights the urgency of implementing air pollution mitigation strategies to reduce the risk to population and planetary health.

Primary Sulfate Is the Dominant Source of Particulate Sulfate during Winter in Fairbanks, Alaska

“…Particulate matter smaller than or equal to 2.5 microns in diameter (PM 2.5 ) causes cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and is responsible for over 4 million premature deaths per year globally. − In urban environments, sulfate is a major contributor to particulate mass, accounting for 20% of PM 2.5 on average. , Air quality models often underestimate sulfate concentrations in polluted regions on the order of 2–6× lower than the observed ambient concentrations, suggesting unaccounted for primary sulfate emissions or secondary sulfate formation mechanisms in these environments. − …”

Highly local sources and large spatial variations in PM2.5 across a city: evidence from a city-wide sensor network in Cork, Ireland

“…Exposure to PM 2.5 affects the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, causes a range of other detrimental health effects and is responsible for several million global deaths every year. 1,2 Despite greater knowledge about the impacts of air pollution on morbidity and mortality, the number of global deaths attributable to ambient PM 2.5 has risen by 102% from 1990 to 2019. 3 In 2020, the Health Effects Institute estimated that air pollution was the 4th leading risk factor for all deaths across the globe, making air pollution the leading environmental risk factor for premature death.…”

Consequential Impact of Particulate Matter Linked Inter-Fibrillar Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Rat Myocardium Subjected to Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

“…Elevated cardiovascular diseases associated with air pollution exposure, which is reported in the recent times, is linked to the toxicity induced by particulate matter (PM) present in the pollutant [ 1 ]. Recent publications have reported that PM 2.5 (PM < 2.5 μm in size) accounted for nearly 200,000 premature deaths annually [ 2 ]. Inhaled PM contains a fraction of inorganic/metals and organic/polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that are associated with oxidative stress and inflammation [ 3 ].…”