by Charles Liu
The NanfangToday, 10:12 AM
It’s hard to believe the US Embassy in Beijing had once angered Chinese authorities just by tweeting pollution readings taken from their building. The Chinese public is now more aware of air pollution than ever, especially thanks to a documentary on China’s smog epidemic hosted by former CCTV reporter Chai Jing earlier this year.
But even though the public in China know about air pollution, it doesn’t mean they understand the health risks. Even on polluted days, like when PM 2.5 levels averaged 158 micrograms per cubic meter in Beijing recently, residents are often seen outside without breathing protection, engaging in physical activity and taking babies for a stroll. Although some Chinese residents have the presence of mind to try to protect themselves, many people don’t realize the danger that air pollution containing PM 2.5 particles pose.
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Now there’s a new study by US scientists that shows that a slight increase in PM 2.5 levels by just ten micrograms is significant enough to increase the rate of death for an entire population by three percent. Furthermore, this small increase can raise the chance of heart disease by 10 percent, and increase the risk of death for non-smokers by respiratory diseases by 27 percent.
George Thurston of the New York University School of Medicine Institute of Environmental Medicine lead the study on the effect of PM 2.5 on public health in which ten years of atmospheric data was collected and the health records of some 510,000 people were studied.
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As Thurston emphasized, the danger of PM 2.5 particles comes from their ability to penetrate the body’s defense system and deeply embed themselves in the alveolar and blood system. Unlike large particles, PM 2.5 particles cannot be expelled from the body by coughing.
Furthermore, fine particulate matter often consist of a number of harmful chemical substances which can carry pollutants such as sulfur and nitrogen into the lungs.
As Thurston told Caijing, this study differed from previous studies because it reflected the diversity in the US public. As well, their study collected detailed information on individual risk factors such as smoking and physical condition that can limit the presence of errors that have shown up in previous studies.
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Richard B Hayes, another important researcher in the study, said their team is now determining which minute particles are most damaging to the body. In doing so, they can determine where they originate, be it from cars or from chemical or coal power plants.
Peking University Health Science Center professor Pan Xiaochuan is reported to have used the model based on Thurston’s finding in order to calculate the health threat posed to the population of Beijing. Pan discovered that when PM 2.5 concentration increases by 10 micrograms per cubic meter in Beijing, respiratory system diseases, circulatory system diseases and an overall death rate are increased by 0.76 percent, 0.67 percent, and 0.43 percent, respectively.
And as we’ve seen in the past, the average daily PM 2.5 level for Beijing can be anywhere from the mid-100’s to beyond index, going way past the measurable scale of 500.
Related:
Beijing’s Air Quality Will Improve… In About 30 YearsThink Smog in Beijing is New? Report Claims It’s Been Around Since Ancient TimesMarathoners in Beijing Sport Masks as They Run Through Heavy Pollution
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