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STUDY FINDS HEART CHANGES IN ELDERLY EXPOSED TO FINE PARTICULATE MATTER
Release Date: 06/14/2001
Contact Information:
FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 2001
STUDY FINDS HEART CHANGES IN ELDERLY
EXPOSED TO FINE PARTICULATE MATTER
Martha (Matheny) Casey 202-564-7842 / matheny.martha@epa.gov
A study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development in Research Triangle Park, N.C., has verified that increased levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) resulting from air pollution are associated with changes in heart rate variability in the elderly. The results of the study of 56 nonsmoking residents in a retirement community in Baltimore, Md., conducted in collaboration with Pennsylvania State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The study has been published in the Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology released this month. Healthy and cardiovascularly impaired subjects appeared to have a similar increased risk of lowered heart rate variability – a marker of heart health. Decreased heart rate variability has been identified as an indicator for risk of sudden heart failure. The research supports earlier EPA retrospective studies that have linked exposure to fine particulate matter with thousands of hospital admissions and premature deaths per year. Although these studies established a statistical link between exposure to fine particles and morbidity or mortality, a physiological effect has not been identified that might explain the observed health effects. For further information contact Ann Brown at 919-541-7818.
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