Even minimal fine dust levels dangerous

Even fine dust concentrations below the EU limit shorten life

09/12/2013

Fine dust is known to be a risk factor for a variety of diseases and has been scientifically proven several times in the past as the cause of a shortening of average life expectancy. In the European Union (EU), limits are therefore in place for particulate matter in air above which the public authorities are required to take countermeasures. But even below these EU limits, fine dust already has a life-shortening effect, according to the results of a study by an international research team led by Dr. Ing. Rob Beelen from the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences at the University of Utrecht (Netherlands).

The scientists evaluated 22 existing European studies with a total of 367,251 participants and analyzed the effects of long-term exposure to particulate air pollution. They found that people exposed to an increased concentration of particulate matter up to 2.5 microns in size had lower life expectancy. This also applied to subjects who were only exposed to exposures below the EU limits, write. Beelen and colleagues. Their results have the researchers in the journal „The Lancet“ released.

Small particulate matter particularly dangerous
The study examined the effects of particulate matter pollution on particles up to ten micrometers in diameter. These were further subdivided into particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter and the larger particles. Because the small particles of particulate matter bring with them a particularly high health risk because they can penetrate deep into the lungs and also pass into the bloodstream. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes this peculiarity with relatively strict limits (ten micrograms per cubic meter of air), while in the EU, however, much higher limits of 25 micrograms per cubic meter apply. However, even these 25 micrograms are quite often exceeded in metropolitan areas.

Life expectancy is reduced with increased particulate matter pollution
Of the nearly 368,000 participants, 29,076 died from a natural cause of death in the 14-year follow-up period, the researchers report. Excluding the other known life-shortening risk factors, such as alcohol and tobacco consumption, social status, prevalence of obesity, high blood pressure and much more, there was a clear correlation between particulate matter exposure (particle size 2.5 microns) and probability during the study period dying, Dr. Beelen and colleagues continue. Five micrograms increase in fine dust concentration per cubic meter of air, the probability of dying in the study period increased by seven percent. This also applied to values ​​that were below a concentration of 25 micrograms per cubic meter of air, the scientists write.

WHO rates air pollution as carcinogenic
Finally, the current study confirms the critical attitude of the World Health Organization (WHO) on particulate matter pollution, which is also reflected in the classification of air pollution as a Group 1 carcinogen since October. Based on a report from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the WHO concluded that the carcinogenic effects of air pollution had been adequately documented for classification. The IARC analysis showed that particulate matter and air pollutants cause a significantly increased lung cancer risk. According to the WHO, 223,000 people worldwide suffer from lung cancer each year due to air pollution. Particularly high loads are exposed to people in China and East Asia. However, the European Environment Agency has shown that nine out of ten urban residents in the EU are also exposed to air pollutants in concentrations that, according to the WHO, are classified as harmful to health. The carcinogenic effects of air pollution are traced by WHO researchers to the various carcinogens it contains, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), diesel and other vehicle emissions, soot, titanium dioxide, talc or nitroarenes. (Fp)

Picture: gnubier