PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Chinese Medical Journal review highlights the health hazards of air pollution

High PM2.5 levels in China may exacerbate the mortality and morbidity of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, suggests latest epidemiological evidence

2023-05-08
(Press-News.org)

Globally, air pollution is a major public health hazard. A key air pollutant linked to health risks is ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which consists of minute particles, sized less than or equal to 2.5 μm, suspended in the air. According to the WHO, annual PM2.5 levels should not exceed 5 μg/m3. However, the current PM2.5 levels in China far exceed this standard and are responsible for approximately 1.4 million PM2.5-related excess deaths annually. Even as the country steadily works towards reducing its PM2.5 footprint, understanding the latest trends in the epidemiology of PM2.5-related diseases, especially cardiopulmonary diseases, is desirable.

Through comprehensive collaborative efforts, researchers from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention have now summarized the latest epidemiological advances related to the cardiopulmonary effects of PM2.5 in the Chinese population. Their review, published in Volume 136, Issue 3 of the Chinese Medical Journal on February 5, 2023, focuses on how PM2.5 affects the mortality, morbidity, and risk factors for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Explaining the rationale for this review, corresponding author Dr. Xiaoming Shi says, “Compared with other diseases, cardiopulmonary disease is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity associated with PM2.5. Over the last decade, most studies have found that PM2.5 is associated with morbidity, mortality, and risk factors for cardiopulmonary disease.”

For the review, the researchers used data from recent large-scale, multi-center studies from China to account for the effects associated with both short-term and long-term exposure to PM2.5. For instance, one time-series study based on mortality data from 130 counties in China revealed that the risk of death from cardiocerebrovascular diseases increases by 0.12% for every 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 levels.

The review reveals that PM2.5 increased the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, including ischemic heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmia, and ischemic stroke, as well as risk of hospitalization due to cardiovascular causes. Changes in functional index and biomarkers such as heart rate, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and inflammatory molecules could indicate increased risks.

Similarly, every 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 concentration was linked to a 1.68% increase in the risk of respiratory mortality. Increases in PM2.5 levels were also found to be associated with the hospitalization rate for respiratory diseases and pediatric respiratory outpatient visits. The acute effects of PM2.5 were found to be associated with functional outcomes such as peak expiratory flow and the forced expiratory volume or capacity.

The authors use this evidence to propose a list of intervention measures against the effects of ambient PM2.5 on cardiopulmonary health. They suggest government interventions to improve industrial emission standards, upgrade industrial boilers, adopt cutting-edge industrial technology to reduce emissions, and promote clean fuels for residential use. Together, these efforts could reduce both PM2.5 pollution and its health burdens, in line with China’s 14th Five-Year Plan and sustainable development goals. On the personal front, use of air purifiers and masks can protect people from the hazards of PM2.5, especially if they live in areas with high PM2.5 levels.

Elaborating on the prospects, Dr. Shi says, “The Chinese government has formulated carbon neutrality goals to reach a peak as soon as possible (before 2030), achieve rapid emission reduction by 2030 to 2050, and net-zero emissions by 2050 to 2060. Clean air action depends on effective supervision, inter-departmental cooperation to promote supervisory work, and the strict implementation of actions and requirements.”

In short, by documenting the latest epidemiological evidence, this review can serve as a key guide for identifying targets of PM2.5 reduction and health improvement in China. It also underscores the need for additional research in several areas, including the identification of highly sensitive biomarkers and pathogenic effects of PM2.5 constituents on health.

 

***

 

Reference

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/CM9.0000000000002218

END



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Researchers Identify the Standard for Gallbladder Cancer Surgery

2023-05-08
(Boston)—The quality of surgery can drastically influence both short- and long-term postoperative outcomes and is a crucial consideration in studies that assess surgical outcomes. One approach for developing accurate quality measures is benchmarking, a quality-improvement process in which the best possible outcomes are identified to serve as a point of reference against which performance can be compared. Surgery for gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a technically challenging surgical procedure and requires considerable expertise ...

Mathematical model based on psychology predicts who will buy trendy products

Mathematical model based on psychology predicts who will buy trendy products
2023-05-08
It’s often risky to introduce new products to the market. In fact, statistics show that between 40 to 90 percent of new products fail. A key component of product adoption is consumer psychology. While there are a few theories that attempt to explain why certain people are not likely to accept novelties, a new study takes a slightly different approach. Florida Atlantic University and collaborators developed and introduced a new mathematical innovation model, grounded in psychology, to provide both qualitative and quantitative predictions of adoption trends for new products. The objective of the study ...

New research shows how terrorism affects our language and the vote for the radical right

New research shows how terrorism affects our language and the vote for the radical right
2023-05-08
The experience of the jihadist terrorist attacks that plagued Western Europe between 2015 and 2017 shows that perceived threats from ethnic and religious minorities affect the tone of public discourse about immigration and the support for radical right parties, according to a new study which uses German data, including more than 10mln tweets. In that period, terrorist attacks and instances of crime involving minorities made immigration a more salient issue for voters, explain Bocconi scholars Francesco Giavazzi (Bocconi University, Milan) and Gaia Rubera (Bocconi ...

Hormone therapy increases lumbar spine bone mineral density, protects against bone loss

2023-05-08
CLEVELAND, Ohio (May 8, 2023)—As the population continues to age, there is greater focus on bone health and minimizing fractures to maintain mobility. A new study suggests that various types of hormone therapies not only increase lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women but also protect against bone loss, even after hormones have been discontinued. Study results are published online in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). Osteoporosis is a common debilitating condition, ...

NIH Trailblazer Award will use advanced AI to improve outcomes for heart patients

NIH Trailblazer Award will use advanced AI to improve outcomes for heart patients
2023-05-08
Pacemakers and other implantable devices that restore normal heart rhythms have saved millions of lives. In some patients, a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator modified for “cardiac resynchronization therapy,” or CRT, can dramatically improve heart failure by synchronizing the heart’s pumping function. Unfortunately, many people don’t respond to CRT and of those who do, some don’t realize its full potential — including increased exercise capacity and staying out of the hospital. CRT can save or change many more lives, says Miaomiao Zhang, an assistant professor at the University of Virginia School ...

New probe aids novel findings on cell functions

New probe aids novel findings on cell functions
2023-05-08
Collaborative research at the University of Cincinnati has developed a new probe to better study cells that has already led to new knowledge about certain cellular processes. UC’s Jiajie Diao, PhD, and Yujie Sun, PhD, are lead authors on new research published May 4 in ACS Sensors. Focus on endolysosomes The team’s research focused on organelles, or specialized structures that perform various jobs inside cells, called endolysosomes. Lysosomes are organelles that act as the “recycling center” of the cell, reusing ...

Model aims to help first responders reach accident sites faster

2023-05-08
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a complex model to improve how quickly first responders – such as police and EMTs – reach the scene of vehicle accidents. In computational testing, the model outperformed the existing techniques for getting first responders to accident sites quickly. “The goal was to figure out the most efficient way to get first responders to an accident,” says Leila Hajibabai, corresponding author of a paper on the work and an assistant professor in NC State’s Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. “Where should first responders be based ...

From Azerbaijan to China: BGI Genomics promotes thalassemia awareness worldwide

From Azerbaijan to China: BGI Genomics promotes thalassemia awareness worldwide
2023-05-08
Thalassemia (thal-uh-SEE-me-uh) is an inherited blood disorder that affects about 300 million people worldwide. Treatments for moderate to severe thalassemia include frequent blood transfusions, chelation therapy to remove excess iron from the blood, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In line with the theme of this year's International Thalassemia Day – "Be Aware. Share. Care: Strengthening Education to Bridge the Thalassemia Care Gap", BGI Genomics will co-host an event with the Shenzhen Municipal Health Commission for thalassemia patients and their family members on May 6, 2023, in Shenzhen, China, providing tips on ...

University of Minnesota to lead new $20M AI Institute focusing on climate-smart agriculture and forestry

University of Minnesota to lead new $20M AI Institute focusing on climate-smart agriculture and forestry
2023-05-08
The University of Minnesota Twin Cities announced that it will receive a $20 million grant over five years from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to lead a new National Artificial Intelligence Research Institute.  Researchers at the AI Institute for Climate-Land Interactions, Mitigation, Adaptation, Tradeoffs and Economy (AI-CLIMATE) aim to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to create more climate-smart practices that will absorb and store carbon while simultaneously boosting the economy in the agriculture and forestry industries. The new ...

Hispanic women face inequities affecting maternal health outcomes

2023-05-08
DALLAS, May 8 2023 — Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of new moms.[1]  The American Heart Association, through the new campaign, “My health is our health”/ “Mi salud es nuestra salud” is raising awareness among Hispanic/ Latina moms, especially during pregnancy, about the importance of managing their blood pressure. On average, about one in every 16 Hispanic women aged 20 and older have coronary heart disease, the most common type of heart disease.[2] Hispanic/Latina mothers hold a special place in their homes when it comes to family decisions. They are considered the head of the family for their key role in raising children and ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Plant doctor: An AI system that watches over urban trees without touching a leaf

Study tracks chromium chemistry in irradiated molten salts

Scientists: the beautiful game is a silver bullet for global health

Being physically active, even just a couple of days a week, may be key to better health

High-fat diet promote breast cancer metastasis in animal models

A router for photons

Nurses and AI collaborate to save lives, reduce hospital stays

Multi-resistance in bacteria predicted by AI model

Tinker Tots: A citizen science project to explore ethical dilemmas in embryo selection

Sensing sickness

Cost to build multifamily housing in California more than twice as high as in Texas

Program takes aim at drinking, unsafe sex, and sexual assault on college campuses

Inability to pay for healthcare reaches record high in U.S.

Science ‘storytelling’ urgently needed amid climate and biodiversity crisis

KAIST Develops Retinal Therapy to Restore Lost Vision​

Adipocyte-hepatocyte signaling mechanism uncovered in endoplasmic reticulum stress response

Mammals were adapting from life in the trees to living on the ground before dinosaur-killing asteroid

Low LDL cholesterol levels linked to reduced risk of dementia

Thickening of the eye’s retina associated with greater risk and severity of postoperative delirium in older patients

Almost one in ten people surveyed report having been harmed by the NHS in the last three years

Enhancing light control with complex frequency excitations

New research finds novel drug target for acute myeloid leukemia, bringing hope for cancer patients

New insight into factors associated with a common disease among dogs and humans

Illuminating single atoms for sustainable propylene production

New study finds Rocky Mountain snow contamination

Study examines lactation in critically ill patients

UVA Engineering Dean Jennifer West earns AIMBE’s 2025 Pierre Galletti Award

Doubling down on metasurfaces

New Cedars-Sinai study shows how specialized diet can improve gut disorders

Making moves and hitting the breaks: Owl journeys surprise researchers in western Montana

[Press-News.org] Chinese Medical Journal review highlights the health hazards of air pollution
High PM2.5 levels in China may exacerbate the mortality and morbidity of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, suggests latest epidemiological evidence