US EPA

2080088 

Journal Article 

Outdoor air pollution: Particulate matter health effects 

Chen, T; Gokhale, J; Shofer, S; Kuschner, WG 

2007 

Yes 

American Journal of the Medical Sciences
ISSN: 0002-9629
EISSN: 1538-2990 

333 

4 

235-243 

English 

17435418 

10.1097/MAJ.0b013e31803b8dcc 

WOS:000246509200008 

Numerous investigations studying multiple populations across a variety of environmental settings have demonstrated a strong association between ambient air particulate matter and cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality. In most studies, the effect size of ambient air particulate pollution on health outcomes is small. However, the exposed population worldwide is very large. Accordingly, particulate air pollution appears to be an important public health hazard that makes an important contribution to the total burden of disease and death in populations across the world. Much of the evidence linking ambient air particulates with adverse health effects is derived from population-based, observational research with potential unidentified confounding exposures, precluding definitive assessments about causation and providing limited mechanistic insights. A growing body of research suggests particulate-associated adverse health effects result from the induction of proinflammatory responses in the lower respiratory tract. Ambient air particulates may increase lung cancer risk. 

air pollution; health; respiratory tract diseases; cardiovascular diseases