A study warns that inhaling air with low pollution levels poses serious threats to the heart muscle and lungs of the elderly.
Researchers analyzed medical records of over 63 million patients followed from 2000 to 2016, finding that prolonged exposure to low air pollution can increase the risk of pneumonia, heart attacks, strokes, and arrhythmias known as atrial fibrillation. The results, published on February 22 in the scientific journal Circulation, indicated that there is a threat to the heart muscle and lungs of elderly individuals even at pollution levels below national standards.
During the study, researchers assessed three components of air pollution: fine particles, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone. They found that even a single unit increase in the levels of these pollutants is associated with thousands of hospital admissions annually, adding that the findings show that air pollution should be considered by health professionals as a risk factor for heart and lung diseases.
Dr. Mahdia Danish Yazdi, the lead author of the study and a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard University, stated, "People should be aware of the air quality in their area to avoid harmful exposure to various air pollutants over long periods."
She further commented, "Since our study found harmful effects even when pollutant levels are below current U.S. standards, air pollution should be considered a risk factor for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and policymakers should reconsider current air pollutant standards."
The researchers indicated that air pollution can harm the heart and lungs by causing inflammation in the heart and throughout the body. Specifically, an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and arrhythmias, along with pneumonia, was associated with long-term exposure to particulate matter, while long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide was linked to a higher risk of stroke and pulmonary fibrosis. Notably, pneumonia was the only condition associated with long-term exposure to ozone, and researchers noted that there are no national guidelines for safe or unsafe long-term ozone levels.
