One reason why air pollution causes death: blood clotting
(When in college I worked on studies of air pollution and air pollution epidemiology. That's one reason why I like this study.)
Pollution--> inflammation--> excess clotting
A study announced today gives one answer to a big question- why do increases in PM10 air pollution (10 microns or less) cause increased mortality? That it happens is well known... at least in air pollution epidemiology it's known.
One famous study* showed the results of a strike at a Utah plant. Soon after the plant closed, hospital admissions for COPD, asthma, and other illnesses dropped. Those numbers stayed low, until soon after the strike ended. Then admissions and deaths went back up to their usual numbers.
But why? The study suggests pollution promotes excess blood clotting. The pollution inflames the lungs, the lungs release interleukin-6, and IL-6 causes "hyperclotting" of the blood, leading to stroke or coronary events.
This was done with mice, but it seems to have some good explanatory power, as studies go.
What should one do if going to a heavily PM10 polluted area?
1. Behavior:
The article says to not exercise heavily in polluted areas- don't go running next to highways. I'd postulate that if you've already got risk factors, then watch out if you're visiting a place with much higher pollution than you're used to. While I can't run the numbers, it might be plausible you're better of taking a taxi down a road- sitting quietly and relaxed- than walking along a road- getting exercise but breathing the pm10's deep inside.
2. Medicines and speculations on medicines (for entertainment purposes only):
The lead author of the above study says that high-risk individuals can take aspirin to thin their blood. Aspirin helps with IL-6 levels.
What about non-high-risk individuals, or people who can't take NSAIDS? Since the damage from pollution is centered around excess clotting, then I could imagine research focused on
A. anti-inflammatories and
B. blood thinners
I'd hope that anyone who lives in a pm10 polluted area or is visiting one, especially anyone with risk factors for heart disease or stroke, will talk to their doctors about medicines and supplements that might be appropriate. Many will already be taking aspirin. The supplement family of omega-3's could be asked about in this context, as they have properties A and B. As always, medical speculations are for entertainment purposes only.
(quick note: If you've already had a coronary event (or know someone...) you/they should talk to your/their doctor about fish oil supplements / omega-3 fatty acids. The medical properties of this supplement are well corroborated... If you research them in Pubmed, you'll find studies like 'Prevention of fatal arrhythmias in high-risk subjects by fish oil n-3 fatty acid intake.')
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* I've got a copy somewhere, or the net knows all (but doesn't tell all). I'll find it later.
Pollution--> inflammation--> excess clotting
A study announced today gives one answer to a big question- why do increases in PM10 air pollution (10 microns or less) cause increased mortality? That it happens is well known... at least in air pollution epidemiology it's known.
One famous study* showed the results of a strike at a Utah plant. Soon after the plant closed, hospital admissions for COPD, asthma, and other illnesses dropped. Those numbers stayed low, until soon after the strike ended. Then admissions and deaths went back up to their usual numbers.
But why? The study suggests pollution promotes excess blood clotting. The pollution inflames the lungs, the lungs release interleukin-6, and IL-6 causes "hyperclotting" of the blood, leading to stroke or coronary events.
This was done with mice, but it seems to have some good explanatory power, as studies go.
What should one do if going to a heavily PM10 polluted area?
1. Behavior:
The article says to not exercise heavily in polluted areas- don't go running next to highways. I'd postulate that if you've already got risk factors, then watch out if you're visiting a place with much higher pollution than you're used to. While I can't run the numbers, it might be plausible you're better of taking a taxi down a road- sitting quietly and relaxed- than walking along a road- getting exercise but breathing the pm10's deep inside.
2. Medicines and speculations on medicines (for entertainment purposes only):
The lead author of the above study says that high-risk individuals can take aspirin to thin their blood. Aspirin helps with IL-6 levels.
What about non-high-risk individuals, or people who can't take NSAIDS? Since the damage from pollution is centered around excess clotting, then I could imagine research focused on
A. anti-inflammatories and
B. blood thinners
I'd hope that anyone who lives in a pm10 polluted area or is visiting one, especially anyone with risk factors for heart disease or stroke, will talk to their doctors about medicines and supplements that might be appropriate. Many will already be taking aspirin. The supplement family of omega-3's could be asked about in this context, as they have properties A and B. As always, medical speculations are for entertainment purposes only.
(quick note: If you've already had a coronary event (or know someone...) you/they should talk to your/their doctor about fish oil supplements / omega-3 fatty acids. The medical properties of this supplement are well corroborated... If you research them in Pubmed, you'll find studies like 'Prevention of fatal arrhythmias in high-risk subjects by fish oil n-3 fatty acid intake.')
------------------------
* I've got a copy somewhere, or the net knows all (but doesn't tell all). I'll find it later.