Indoor Particles Affect Vascular Function in the Aged

Rationale:

Exposure to particulate matter is associated with risk of cardiovascular events, possibly through endothelial dysfunction, and indoor air may be most important.

Objectives:We investigated effects of controlled exposure to indoor air particles on microvascular function (MVF) as the primary endpoint and biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress as

secondary endpoints in a healthy elderly population.

Methods:

Atotal of 21 nonsmoking couples participated in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study with two consecutive 48-hourexposures to either particle-filtered or nonfiltered air (2,533–4,058 and 7,718–12,988 particles/cm3, respectively) in their homes.

Measurements and Main Results:

MVF was assessed noninvasively by measuring digital peripheral artery tone after arm ischemia. Secondary endpoints included hemoglobin, red blood cells, platelet count, coagulation factors, P-selectin, plasma amyloid A, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-a, protein oxidation measured as 2-aminoadipic semialdehyde in plasma, urinary

8-iso-prostaglandin F2a, and blood pressure. Indoor air filtration significantly improved MVF by 8.1% (95% confidence interval, 0.4– 16.3%), and the particulate matter (diameter,2.5 mm) mass of the indoor particles was more important than the total number concentration (10–700 nm) for these effects. MVF was significantly associated with personal exposure to iron, potassium, copper, zinc, arsenic, and lead in the fine fraction. After Bonferroni correction,

none of the secondary biomarkers changed significantly.

Conclusions:

Reduction of particle exposure by filtration of recirculated indoor air for only 48 hours improved MVF in healthy elderly citizens, suggesting that this may be a feasible way of reducing the

risk of cardiovascular disease .

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Association Between Fine Particulate Matter and Diabetes Prevalence in the U.S.

Association Between Fine Particulate Matter and Diabetes Prevalence in the U.S.

OBJECTIVE Recent studies have drawn attention to the adverse effects of ambient air pollutants such as particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) on human health. We evaluated the association between PM2.5 exposure and diabetes prevalence in the U.S. and explored factors that may influence this relationship.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The relationship between PM2.5 levels and diagnosed diabetes prevalence in the U.S. was assessed by multivariate regression models at the county level using data obtained from both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for years 2004 and 2005. Covariates including obesity rates, population density, ethnicity, income, education, and health insurance were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau and the CDC.

RESULTS Diabetes prevalence increases with increasing PM2.5 concentrations, with a 1% increase in diabetes prevalence seen with a 10 μg/m³ increase in PM2.5 exposure (2004: β = 0.77 [95% CI 0.39–1.25], P < 0.001; 2005: β = 0.81 [0.48–1.07], P < 0.001). This finding was confirmed for each study year in both univariate and multivariate models. The relationship remained consistent and significant when different estimates of PM2.5 exposure were used. Even for counties within guidelines for EPA PM2.5 exposure limits, those with the highest exposure showed a >20% increase in diabetes prevalence compared with that for those with the lowest levels of PM2.5, an association that persisted after controlling for diabetes risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest PM2.5 may contribute to increased diabetes prevalence in the adult U.S. population. These findings add to the growing evidence that air pollution is a risk factor for diabetes.

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Association Between Fine Particulate Matter and Diabetes Prevalence in the U.S.

Polveri sottili, le nuove regole

MISURE PIÙ RIGOROSE per combattere l’inquinamento dal polveri sottili. Sono contenute nell’accordo di programma deliberato dalla Regione Marche e che impatta pesantemente su molte città della costa, tra queste Civitanova. La zona perimetrata, ed esclusa ai mezzi alimentati a diesel pre Euro e Euro 1, oltre che a una seri di veicoli commerciali, è ampia; comprende tutto l’abitato tra il tracciato dell’autostrada e il mare, e il quartiere di Santa Maria Apparente. In mezzo c’è anche la statale adriatica che non potrà essere percorsa dai veicoli considerati eccessivamente inquinanti nel tratto che va dall’incrocio con l’imbocco della superstrada fino a via Tarigo, a Fontespina. In sostanza, tutto il segmento urbano.

Disposizioni che avrebbero già dovuto entrare in vigore qualche giorno fa, ma i Comuni frenano per la difficoltà di mettere in pratica le novità. Che sono necessarie per adeguarsi alla normativa comunitaria che impone drastiche misure di contenimento all’inquinamento da Pm10 stabilendo dei limiti che fissano a un massimo di 35 i giorni, tollerati nell’anno, di sforamento della soglia di allarme delle polveri sottili (50 microgrammi per ogni metro cubo di aria).

CIVITANOVA questa soglia l’ha toccata qualche giorno fa, il 28 settembre, e condivide il poco appetibile traguardo anche con altri Comuni marchigiani. Le misure dettate dalla Regione interessano tutta la costa marchgiana e alcune aree dell’entroterra. E condizioneranno anche le abitudini finora seguite nel riscaldamento perché fissano a 17 i gradi (con una tolleranza di 2) da non superare nei locali in cui si esercitano attività commerciali e 19 nelle abitazioni. Rivoluzione in vista anche per pizzerie e panetterie che lavorano con il forno a legna. Stabilito che ne basta uno per moltiplicare per 2.500 la quantità di Pm10 emessa da una caldaia a metano, sarà obbligatoria l’istallazione di impianti per l’abbattimento, almeno del 90%, dei fumi inquinanti.

«L’ANCI — avverte Ferdinando Nicoletti, a Civitanova assesore all’ambiente — non ha ancora sottoscritto l’accordo di programma. Ci sono delle forti perpessità per la gestione della normativa sulla statale adriatica dove si verrebbero a creare criticità enormi. O si cambia qualcosa o la Regione si prende la responsabilità di applicare l’accordo d’imperio». Fa riferimento, Nicoletti, all’impossibilità — stante che non è previsto il dirottamento sulla A14 — di deviare il traffico inquinante. «Dove lo mandiamo — si chiede — dal momento che non abbiamo una tangenziale? Cosa facciamo, spostiamo il traffico di auto e camion dentro la viabilità dei quartieri di Fontespina e di San Marone per non farlo passare sulla statale? A me pare, sotto questo aspetto, una delibera demenziale». Le nuove misure sul traffico entreranno presto in vigore, compatibilmente con i tempi necessari a predisporre la segnaletica. Saranno in vigore fino al 30 aprile 2012. La Regione ha stanzionto 430 mila euro come contributo ai Comuni per gli interventi di gestione dei provvedimenti anti polveri sottili.

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Air Pollution and Hospitalization for Headache

Air Pollution and Hospitalization for Headache

Inquinamanto ed Emicrania

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Acute Effects of Ambient Particulate Matter on Mortality in Europe and North America: Results From the APHENA Study

Acute Effects of Ambient Particulate Matter on Mortality in Europe and

North America: Results from the APHENA Study

Background: The APHENA (Air Pollution and Health: A Combined European and North American Approach) study is a collaborative analysis of multicity time-series data on the effect of air pollution on population health, bringing together data from the European APHEA (Air Pollution and Health: A European Approach) and U.S. NMMAPS (National Morbidity, Mortality and Air Pollution Study) projects, along with Canadian data.

Objectives: The main objective of APHENA was to assess the coherence of the findings of the multicity studies carried out in Europe and North America, when analyzed with a common protocol, and to explore sources of possible heterogeneity. We present APHENA results on the effects of particulate matter (PM) ≤ 10 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM₁₀) on the daily number of deaths for all ages and for those < 75 and ≥ 75 years of age. We explored the impact of potential environmental and socioeconomic factors that may modify this association.

Methods: In the first stage of a two-stage analysis, we used Poisson regression models, with natural and penalized splines, to adjust for seasonality, with various degrees of freedom. In the second stage, we used meta-regression approaches to combine time-series results across cites and to assess effect modification by selected ecologic covariates.

Results: Air pollution risk estimates were relatively robust to different modeling approaches. Risk estimates from Europe and United States were similar, but those from Canada were substantially higher. The combined effect of PM₁₀ on all-cause mortality across all ages for cities with daily air pollution data ranged from 0.2% to 0.6% for a 10-µg/m³ increase in ambient PM₁₀ concentration. Effect modification by other pollutants and climatic variables differed in Europe and the United States. In both of these regions, a higher proportion of older people and higher unemployment were associated with increased air pollution risk.

Conclusions: Estimates of the increased mortality associated with PM air pollution based on the APHENA study were generally comparable with results of previous reports. Overall, risk estimates were similar in Europe and in the United States but higher in Canada. However, PM₁₀ effect modification patterns were somewhat different in Europe and the United State

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Acute Effects of Ambient Particulate Matter on Mortality in Europe and

North America: Results from the APHENA Study

Several studies considered the relation between long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) and total mortality, as well as mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Our aim was to provide a comprehensive review of European epidemiological studies on the issue.

Long-term particulate matter exposure and mortality: a review of European epidemiological studies

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Long-term particulate matter exposure and mortality: a review of European epidemiological studies

Fine-Particulate Air Pollution and Life Expectancy in the United States

I benefici dei miglioramenti nella qualità dell’aria – U.S.A.

Aumento di 7 mesi nell’aspettativa di vita per 10 ug/m3 riduzione di PM2.5

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