Long-term Exposure to Particulate Matter and Risk of Death from Heart Disease

George D. Thurston, Sc.D., Ph.D.; NYU School of Medicine
John J. Godleski, MD; Harvard Medical School
R01ES09560, P30ES00260, and P01ES08129

Background: Previous epidemiologic studies by these and other researchers have linked long-term exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution to broad cause-of-death mortality; however, links to specific cardiopulmonary diseases and dysfunctions have not been established. These NIEHS-supported researchers and a colleague at Brigham Young University linked cause-of-death data collected by the American Cancer Society with air pollution data from U.S. metropolitan areas.

Advance: Long-term particulate matter exposures were most strongly associated with death due to ischemic heart disease, dysrhythmias, heart failure, and cardiac arrest. For these causes of death, a 10 microgram/cubic meter elevation in particulate matter was associated with 8% to 18% increases in mortality risk. Risks for smokers were comparable or larger than for non-smokers. Death attributable to respiratory diseases had relatively weak associations.

Implication: The researchers conclude that particulate matter exposure is a risk factor for specific cardiovascular disease mortality through mechanisms that likely include pulmonary and systemic inflammation, accelerated athersosclerosis, and changes in cardiac rhythms. The study also indicates that although smoking is a much larger risk factor for cardiovascular disease, exposure to fine particulate combined with smoking imposes additional effects.

Citation: Pope CA 3rd, Burnett RT, Thurston GD, Thun MJ, Calle EE, Krewski D, Godleski JJ. Cardiovascular mortality and long-term exposure to particulate air pollution: epidemiological evidence of general pathophysiological pathways of disease. Circulation. 2004 Jan 6;109(1):71-7. Epub 2003 Dec 15.