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EPA Study Finds Air Pollutants in Cars Cause Health Effects
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As part of ongoing research to reduce the public's exposure to air pollutants, a new study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has found associations between tiny particles in the air inside automobiles and cardiovascular health. The study, published in the second issue for April 2004 of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, is contributing to the science needed to identify the air pollutants in vehicles that have the greatest concern for public health.
"We examined the short-term effects from pollutant exposures for a group of individuals who spend most of the work day in their vehicles. The average American spends about 1 1/2 hours in an automobile, while those whose jobs require driving may spend up to 9 hours on the road," said Dr. Robert Devlin, EPA scientist and an author of the study. "This research supports other studies that have found PM2.5 from mobile sources may be a particular health concern," he said.
EPA has established air quality standards for tiny particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) -- much smaller than the diameter of a human hair. Studies conducted in the United States and around the world have shown that PM2.5 is associated with illness and premature death. Asthmatics, the very young, the genetically predisposed and the elderly are most susceptible to PM2.5. Research by EPA and others continues to advance understanding of the sources and health effects of PM2.5. One area of investigation is to compare the potency of PM2.5 derived from different known sources such as cars.
Nine young, healthy highway patrol officers in North Carolina participated in the study. Scientists monitored air pollutants inside and outside vehicles while troopers were on patrol for nine-hour shifts and examined cardiovascular effects before, during and after shifts. The findings indicated that people driving in motor vehicles are exposed to PM2.5 and other pollutants generated from motor vehicles and that these exposures appear to cause cardiovascular changes.
The scientists found small changes in the ability of the heart to beat in proper rhythm and changes in the blood that can lead to the formation of blood clots, a risk factor for heart attacks. The changes were more strongly associated with PM2.5 found inside cars than with PM2.5 found outside. While these small cardiovascular changes did not pose a health concern to the young healthy troopers, they may be a concern to more susceptible individuals, such as elderly people with heart disease.
EPA scientists placed monitors inside the patrol cars to measure the type and amount of several pollutants, including particles, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. For comparison purposes, monitors were also set up at the side of roads and at fixed sites in the community in the Raleigh-Durham, N.C. area.
EPA relies on quality science as the basis for sound policy and decision-making. EPA's laboratories and research centers, and EPA's research grantees, are building the scientific foundation needed to support the Agency's mission to safeguard human health and the environment.