The Present and Future
JACC State-of-the-Art Review
Cardiopulmonary Impact of Particulate Air Pollution in High-Risk Populations: JACC State-of-the-Art Review

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2020.10.020Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Particulate air pollution is a threat to global public health, particularly for cardiopulmonary diseases.

  • Personal-level approaches that reduce air pollution exposure can lead to improved health endpoints.

  • Trials of personal strategies to reduce air pollution exposure and improve health outcomes are warranted.

Abstract

Fine particulate air pollution <2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5) is a major environmental threat to global public health. Multiple national and international medical and governmental organizations have recognized PM2.5 as a risk factor for cardiopulmonary diseases. A growing body of evidence indicates that several personal-level approaches that reduce exposures to PM2.5 can lead to improvements in health endpoints. Novel and forward-thinking strategies including randomized clinical trials are important to validate key aspects (e.g., feasibility, efficacy, health benefits, risks, burden, costs) of the various protective interventions, in particular among real-world susceptible and vulnerable populations. This paper summarizes the discussions and conclusions from an expert workshop, Reducing the Cardiopulmonary Impact of Particulate Matter Air Pollution in High Risk Populations, held on May 29 to 30, 2019, and convened by the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Key Words

cardiopulmonary disease
cardiovascular disease
fine particulate air pollution
portable air cleaner
randomized clinical trials

Abbreviations and Acronyms

BP
blood pressure
COPD
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CVD
cardiovascular disease
DM
diabetes mellitus
MI
myocardial infarction
PAC
portable air cleaner
PM
particulate matter

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Listen to this manuscript's audio summary by Editor-in-Chief Dr. Valentin Fuster on JACC.org.