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Pollution takes its toll on the heart

Date:
September 21, 2010
Source:
North Shore-Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Health System
Summary:
The fine particles of pollution that hang in the air can increase the risk for sudden cardiac arrest, according to a new study.
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The fine particles of pollution that hang in the air can increase the risk for sudden cardiac arrest, according to a new study conducted by a team from Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Medical Center and The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research.

Robert A. Silverman, MD, and his colleagues have been interested in the effects of ambient fine particulate matter on a number of medical conditions, including cardiovascular disease and asthma. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) keeps tabs on air pollution through dozens of strategically placed pollution sensors in cities and towns throughout the country. This data allowed the researchers to collect data on average 24-hour values of small particulates and other gaseous pollutants around New York City during the summer (when pollution is higher) and winter months. They then compared that data to the 8,216 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests that occurred between 2002 and 2006. Most people in the throes of a cardiac arrest do not survive in time for emergency medical service teams to save them.

What they were looking for was simple: Were there more cardiac arrests on high pollution days than on lower pollution days? In the American Journal of Epidemiology, Dr. Silverman and his fellow researchers reported that for a 10ug/m3 rise in small particle air pollution, there was a four-to-10 percent increase in the number of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. The current EPA standard is 35ug/m3. The effect was much greater in the summer months, said Dr. Silverman, an associate professor of emergency medicine and director of research at LIJ's Department of Emergency Medicine. The scientists also evaluated levels of ozone, nitric oxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide, but these showed a much weaker relationship. Analysis of the data from the death records and the 33 EPA monitors was conducted in collaboration with Kazuhiko Ito, PhD, an assistant professor at the Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine at New York University School of Medicine and investigators from the New York City Fire Department, John Freese, MD, Brad J. Kaufman, MD, David J. Prezant, MD, and James Braun.

"Small particulate matter is dangerous to health," said Dr. Silverman. "We need to figure out ways to combat air pollution and decrease the number of high-pollution days." He added that pollution related cardiac arrests occurred during times when the levels were high but still below the current EPA safety threshold.

The researchers are now looking for a relationship between out-of-hospital cardiac arrests and traffic flow patterns. Other studies have suggested that one in three people live in areas where small particulate matter levels are considered unhealthy.


Story Source:

Materials provided by North Shore-Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Health System. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. R. A. Silverman, K. Ito, J. Freese, B. J. Kaufman, D. De Claro, J. Braun, D. J. Prezant. Association of Ambient Fine Particles With Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrests in New York City. American Journal of Epidemiology, 2010; DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwq217

Cite This Page:

North Shore-Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Health System. "Pollution takes its toll on the heart." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 September 2010. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100920123910.htm>.
North Shore-Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Health System. (2010, September 21). Pollution takes its toll on the heart. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100920123910.htm
North Shore-Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Health System. "Pollution takes its toll on the heart." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100920123910.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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