A recent U.S. study suggests that elderly who breathe in microscopic particles from air pollution – specifically PM2.5 – for only one or two days increase their chances of being hospitalized for several diseases. Particles of PM2.5 are too small to be seen with the naked eye – each piece is 3% the width of a human hair or smaller.
The new study has confirmed earlier research that links short-term exposure of PM2.5 to a heightened risk of hospitalization and death from some diseases, such as lung and heart diseases, blood flow blockages in the legs, and diabetes. Also, they found new links between short-term exposure and an increase in hospitalizations – sepsis (a life-threatening illness caused by blood infections) and kidney failure.
The Study
- The researchers analyzed the hospital records of Medicare patients from all over America.
- The records were from 2000 to 2012.
- The patients were chosen based on their home zip codes.
- Next, they analyzed data on air pollution levels within the zip code the day before and the day of each patient’s date of hospitalization.
- Overall, there were 214 different health conditions involved.
Lead writer of the study Yaguang Wei, who is an environmental health researcher at Harvard, said that of the 214 ailments, breathing and heart diseases were the most common and dangerous health effects of PM2.5 exposure.
He said:
Heart and breathing diseases are the leading causes of hospitalization, emergency room visits and even death.
According to air quality guidelines released by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2005, people shouldn’t be exposed to PM2.5 levels that average above 25 micrograms per cubic meter of air for over 24 hours. However, health problems have been found in people exposed to levels less than the WHO guidelines.
The results show that there is a connection between short-term exposure to fine particulate matter and hazardous conditions such as fluid disorders, sepsis, intestinal problems, and kidney failure, among other previously known health problems.
As far as the newly discovered connections are concerned: each cubic meter increase in short-term PM2.5 average levels was linked with a yearly increase of about 2,050 hospital visits. The cost of that rise in hospital visits came to $31 million, not including the cost of care afterward.
As far as the connections between heart and breathing disorders and air pollution are concerned: each microgram per cubic meter increase in short-term PM2.5 average levels was linked with a yearly increase of about 3,642 hospital visits. The cost of that rise in hospital visits came to $69 million, not including the cost of care afterward.
Even if the air pollution levels were found to be below safety levels set by the WHO, air pollution was linked with a higher risk of hospitalization for breathing and heart disorders. The research has been published in the medical journal BMJ.
