They have “an increasing impact on the rapid aging of the population” and therefore on premature deaths. And they become a problem in particular for fragile patients such as cancer patients, for whom the effect is to see the risks for the heart increase. Science once again puts PM 2.5 fine particles in the dock. Two new studies add to the line of research that is certifying the negative consequences of this component of smog. One is a work conducted on the Korean population by a team from the Pohang University of Science and Technology (Postech) and published in ‘Environmental Research’, the other is signed by Chinese scientists and was published in a journal of the American College of Cardiology , ‘Jacc: CardioOncology’.
The Korean study indicates that fine particulate matter, with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers (Pm 2.5), aggravates the impact of the aging Korean population. And due to an aging population, the authors predict that “premature deaths related to PM 2.5 will be more than 3 times higher by 2050 than today” if current exposure levels to these ultrafine particles persist. The group composed of professor Hyung Joo Lee and Na Rae Kim, student of Postech’s Environmental Science and Engineering Division, projected the number of deaths by 2050 based on the combined effects of PM 2.5 and the aging of the population and have identified the concentration of PM 2.5 that would maintain the current health burden related to these dusts. Older adults are especially sensitive to these microparticles, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and contribute to a variety of health problems. “As the Korean population ages rapidly, an increasing healthcare burden is expected.”
The team initially calculated the average concentration of Pm 2.5 over a 3-year period using values from 2019 to 2021, incorporating both pre- and post-pandemic data to ensure an accurate assessment. Over the period considered, the average concentration of PM 2.5 in Korea was approximately 20 micrograms/cubic meter, above the annual air quality standard of the Ministry of the Environment (15 µg/m³) and significantly higher than the recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), equal to 5 µg/m³. The team then used projected population data, finding an increase in older adults from 16% in 2020 to around 40% by 2050. The analysis allowed them to calculate that, “if PM 2.5 concentrations persisted at the observed level Over the past 3 years, the projected number of deaths by 2050 could rise to around 110,000, more than tripling the 34,000 deaths in 2020.” Even going down to the threshold set by the Korean ministry, 84,000 deaths are still estimated by 2050. Only reaching around 6 µg/m³ would maintain 2020 mortality levels by 2050.
“With the rapid aging of the population, the number of people vulnerable to health outcomes related to PM 2.5 is increasing and, as a result, this ‘ultrafine particulate matter’ poses a significant threat to public health,” warns Hyung Joo Lee. To crystallize the situation and avoid worsening the burden on healthcare “we must reduce PM 2.5 concentrations to around 40% of the annual standard”, therefore “with more rigorous regulatory actions than those currently in place”.
The work dedicated to cancer patients highlights another aspect linked to smog and in particular to fine dust: the impact on the heart. If modern therapies have extended the lives of many cancer patients, however – highlight the authors of the study on the topic – survivors of the disease often live with chronic health problems, including cardiovascular diseases. New research shows that air pollution plays a significant role in increasing cardiovascular disease and mortality in cancer patients and contributes to health disparities related to these conditions. “The review highlights the critical need to consider environmental factors, particularly air pollution, in cardio-oncology risk assessment and patient management,” notes Xiaoquan Rao, senior author of the study and a cardiologist at Tongji Hospital, University of Wuhan, China.
Xiaoquan Rao notes that air pollution has been recognized as a significant risk factor for both cardiovascular disease and cancer; however, little research has been conducted to study its effects, particularly in cardio-oncology or the overlap of both diseases. The new study was motivated by the need to fill this gap.
The authors examined articles published between 2000 and 2023: 8 papers directly explored the combined effect of air pollution on cardiovascular disease and cancer. The researchers found that increased exposure to PM 2.5 in the air was significantly associated with higher rates of both incidence and mortality from cardiovascular disease among cancer patients.
Xiaoquan Rao notes that smog exposure appears to impact multiple shared risk factors, including oxidative and inflammatory stress. According to the scientists, a surprising finding was that even short-term exposure to high levels of pollution had a rapid impact on the cardiovascular health of cancer patients. “This suggests that even temporary deteriorations in air quality can have immediate negative effects on vulnerable populations,” concludes the author.
The paper also highlights how air pollution contributes to health disparities around the world. Disadvantaged populations are exposed to higher levels of air pollution and cancer patients with lower socioeconomic status face a greater risk of mortality from air pollution-related cardiovascular diseases than the general public, researchers report, recalling the need for further more detailed research.
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