Particles In Polluted Air Increase Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease Among Postmenopausal Women, Study Says

Exposure to high levels of fine particles in air pollution is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease among postmenopausal women, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, the Wall Street Journal reports (Winstein, Wall Street Journal, 2/1). Joel Kaufman of the University of Washington and colleagues examined data of 65,893 postmenopausal women between ages 50 and 79 who participated in the Women's Health Initiative to evaluate long-term exposure to air pollution and the incidence of cardiovascular disease, the AP/New York Times reports (AP/New York Times, 2/1). The researchers recorded the number of deaths, heart attacks, cases of coronary disease, strokes and clogged arteries among the women from 1994 to 1998 (Miller et al., NEJM, 2/1). They also adjusted for variables that have been attributed to increased risk of disease in past studies, including lower incomes and other health problems, the AP/Times reports. For the study, the researchers focused on the particles in air pollution -- which are made up of dust, soot and various chemicals -- that come from the burning of fossil fuels. The study found that every increase of 10 millionths of particles in the air increased the risk of death caused by cardiovascular disease by about 75% among postmenopausal women. In addition, for every 10-unit increase in particles, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease increased by 24%, the study found (AP/New York Times, 2/1). According to the Journal, the current limit for fine particles in the air was set in 1997 at an annual average of 15 micrograms per cubic meter, and the Clean Air Act requires the Environmental Protection Agency to review and reissue air-quality regulations every five years. The World Health Organization recommends that governments adopt a long-term level of 10 micrograms per cubic meter, the Journal reports (Wall Street Journal, 2/1).

Reaction
In an accompanying NEJM editorial, Douglas Dockery, a pollution specialist at the Harvard School of Public Health, writes, "There was a lot of evidence previously suggesting that the long-term [EPA] standard should be lower, and this is adding one more study to that evidence" (AP/New York Times, 2/1). Jeremy Pearson of the British Heart Foundation said, "This robust new research ... suggests the increased risk is greater than we previously thought, and adds to mounting evidence that air pollution should be taken seriously as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease" (Laurance, Independent, 2/1). Rogene Henderson, a pollution expert who heads the EPA's outside panel of scientists, said that the findings might support efforts aimed at encouraging the agency to lower the legal limit of particles but that it is not clear when it will revisit the matter. An EPA spokesperson said that it is "too soon to say" how much weight the agency will give the new findings in reviewing pollution standards but that the study "will be considered as part" of the process (Wall Street Journal, 2/1).














The study is available online.

CBS' "Evening News" on Wednesday reported on the study. The segment includes comments from Kaufman; Lori Mosca, director of the Preventative Cardiology Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital; and a woman with cardiovascular problems who lives in a town with high air pollution (LaPook, "Evening News," CBS, 1/31). Video of the segment is available online.

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