The Smog Blog: Particle Pollution Shortens the Lives of People with COPD

Long-term exposure to particulate matter elevates the risk of mortality in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) according to a new study of Medicare patients in 34 U.S. cities. 

This study used hospital data to construct a cohort of people aged 65 and older that were discharged from a hospital with COPD, between 1985 and 1999.  The study focused on residents of 34 cities with daily monitoring of PM₁₀, and examined temporal changes in pollution concentrations within the cities.  The study found a relatively large effect of PM₁₀, compared to general population cohorts in early studies.  The study also found that the effect was evident for exposure in the previous year, and higher when looking at effects over the previous 4 years. 

According to the study authors, the study “indicates that reductions in air pollution should be followed quickly by improvements in public health.”

This new study is important from a public policy perspective because when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last reviewed the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter, the agency failed to strengthen the annual standard for fine particles and actually recinded the annual average standard for PM_10. 

EPA's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee had urged EPA to strenghten the annual average standard to protect against adverse health effects including increased risk of premature death from exposure to concentrations below the current standards.  This study is the first to focus on increased risk to people with COPD, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. 

Zanobetti A, Bind M-A C, Schwartz J. Particulate Air Pollution and Survival in a COPD Cohort. Environ Health 2008; 7: 48. doi: 10.1186/1476-069X-7-48.

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