Lines that Connect — Critical Review of Fine Particle Health Research
Check out this critical review of the last ten years of research on the health effects of fine particle pollution by two leading scientists — Dr. C. Arden Pope III of Brigham Young University and Dr. Douglas W. Dockery of Harvard School of Public Health.
The review explores six lines of research on fine particles that have been pursued since 1997:
- recent meta-analyses, or systematic quantitative reviews, of the single-city time series studies and several recent multicity time series studies of short-term exposure and mortality;
- the reanalysis, extended analysis, and new analysis of cohort and related studies of long-term exposure and mortality;
- recent studies exploring different time scales of exposure;
- progress in analyzing the shape of the exposure-response function;
- research on cardiovascular disease;
- studies of potential pathophysiological or mechanistic pathways that link exposure with disease and death, providing information on biological plausibility.
In addition, important gaps in scientific knowledge and reasons for skepticism are discussed. The authors conclude that “a comprehensive evaluation of the research findings provides persuasive evidence that exposure to fine particulate air pollution has adverse effects on cardiopulmonary health.”
A follow-up article solicited invited comments from a number of scientists, including several prominent critics of PM regulation.
Pope CA III, Dockery DW. Health Efects of Fine Particulate Air Pollution: Lines That Connect. J. Air & Waste Manage Assoc 2006;56:709-742.
Chow JC, Watson JG, Mauderly JL, Costa DL, Wyzga RE, Vedal S, Hidy GM, Altshuler SL, Marrack D, Huess JM, Wolff GT, Pope III CA, Dockery DW. Health Effects of Fine Particulate Air Pollution: Lines that Connect. J. Air & Waste Manage Assoc 2006; 56:1368-1380.
