2005 Research Highlights: Health Effects of Particulate Matter and Ozone Air Pollution
This annotated bibliography presents brief summaries of selected research papers published in 2005 (or in press in January 2006) on the health effects of particulate and ozone air pollution.
Some of the highlights of the more than 50 new studies summarized include:
• A long-term study showing risk of premature death attributable to PM is three times greater than previously reported;
• Studies linking daily exposures in PM with increased hospital admissions for strokes, congestive heart failure, heart attacks, COPD and other respiratory problems;
• A toxicology study showing links between exposure to PM2.5 at levels near or below the current standards and development of atherosclerotic plaques;
• Many studies elucidating the biological mechanisms and pathways for cardiovascular effects;
• Studies linking prenatal exposure to air pollution with increased risk of low birth weight, preterm birth, infant mortality, and cancer;
• Research showing that coarse particles exacerbate respiratory disease;
• Three meta-analyses linking ozone air pollution with premature mortality and a multi-city study showing that effects are not due to temperature;
• Intervention studies showing that reductions in air pollution yield measurable improvement in children’s respiratory health and reduction in premature deaths; and
• Policy analyses showing the need for strong annual and daily fine particle standards to protect susceptible populations and provide equivalent levels of protection to different regions of the country.
Links to the full articles or abstracts are provided. A copy of the bibliography is attached.
Attachments
- 2005 Research Highlights: Air Pollution and Health
- 1322005-2005-health-studie.pdf
Highlights of 2005 Health Studies on PM and Ozone
