BMJ 2013;347:f7338 doi: 10.1136/bmj.f7338 (Published 9 December 2013)
Page 1 of 2
News
NEWS EU air quality limits are not stringent enough, say researchers Jacqui Wise London
Long term exposure to fine particulate air pollution is associated with mortality even at concentrations well below the current European Union limits, a new analysis has concluded.
Fine particulate pollution is defined as tiny particles of soot or dust with a diameter smaller than 2.5 micrometres. The current European Union limit for this type of pollution is an annual average of 25 micrograms/m3. (The World Health Organization’s air quality guideline is 10 micrograms/m3.)
The European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE) pooled data from 22 longitudinal cohort studies across Europe, including more than 360 000 residents of large cities in 13 European countries.1 The results, published in the Lancet, showed that 29 076 participants died from natural causes during the average 13.9 years of follow-up. The researchers found a 7% rise in the number of deaths from natural causes with each increase of 5 micrograms/m3 in fine particulate air pollution (hazard ratio 1.07 (95% confidence interval 1.02 to 1.13)). The hazard ratio remained significantly raised even when only participants exposed to pollution concentrations lower than 20 micrograms/m3 were included.
Furthermore, the association remained significant after data were adjusted for confounding factors such as smoking status, physical activity, education level, and body mass index. Air pollution was associated with excess mortality in men but not in women, a finding that differs from previous studies and needs further investigation, the researchers said. In a commentary Jeremy Langrish and Nicholas Mills of the University of Edinburgh said, “These data, along with the findings from other large cohort studies, suggest that further public and environmental health policy interventions are necessary and have the potential to reduce morbidity and mortality across Europe. Movement towards more stringent guidelines, as recommended by WHO, should be an urgent priority.” 1
Beelen R, Raaschou-Nielsen O, Stafoggia M, Andersen Z, Weinmayr G, Hoffmann B, et al. Effects of long-term exposure to air pollution on natural-cause mortality: an analysis of 22 European cohorts within the multicentre ESCAPE project. Lancet 9 Dec 2013, doi:10. 1016/S0140-6736(13)62158-3.
Cite this as: BMJ 2013;347:f7338 © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 2013
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BMJ 2013;347:f7338 doi: 10.1136/bmj.f7338 (Published 9 December 2013)
Page 2 of 2
NEWS
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Page 1 of 2
News
NEWS EU air quality limits are not stringent enough, say researchers Jacqui Wise London
Long term exposure to fine particulate air pollution is associated with mortality even at concentrations well below the current European Union limits, a new analysis has concluded.
Fine particulate pollution is defined as tiny particles of soot or dust with a diameter smaller than 2.5 micrometres. The current European Union limit for this type of pollution is an annual average of 25 micrograms/m3. (The World Health Organization’s air quality guideline is 10 micrograms/m3.)
The European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE) pooled data from 22 longitudinal cohort studies across Europe, including more than 360 000 residents of large cities in 13 European countries.1 The results, published in the Lancet, showed that 29 076 participants died from natural causes during the average 13.9 years of follow-up. The researchers found a 7% rise in the number of deaths from natural causes with each increase of 5 micrograms/m3 in fine particulate air pollution (hazard ratio 1.07 (95% confidence interval 1.02 to 1.13)). The hazard ratio remained significantly raised even when only participants exposed to pollution concentrations lower than 20 micrograms/m3 were included.
Furthermore, the association remained significant after data were adjusted for confounding factors such as smoking status, physical activity, education level, and body mass index. Air pollution was associated with excess mortality in men but not in women, a finding that differs from previous studies and needs further investigation, the researchers said. In a commentary Jeremy Langrish and Nicholas Mills of the University of Edinburgh said, “These data, along with the findings from other large cohort studies, suggest that further public and environmental health policy interventions are necessary and have the potential to reduce morbidity and mortality across Europe. Movement towards more stringent guidelines, as recommended by WHO, should be an urgent priority.” 1
Beelen R, Raaschou-Nielsen O, Stafoggia M, Andersen Z, Weinmayr G, Hoffmann B, et al. Effects of long-term exposure to air pollution on natural-cause mortality: an analysis of 22 European cohorts within the multicentre ESCAPE project. Lancet 9 Dec 2013, doi:10. 1016/S0140-6736(13)62158-3.
Cite this as: BMJ 2013;347:f7338 © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 2013
For personal use only: See rights and reprints http://www.bmj.com/permissions
Subscribe: http://www.bmj.com/subscribe
BMJ 2013;347:f7338 doi: 10.1136/bmj.f7338 (Published 9 December 2013)
Page 2 of 2
NEWS
Figure
For personal use only: See rights and reprints http://www.bmj.com/permissions
Subscribe: http://www.bmj.com/subscribe
