Studies on the health effects of fine particulate air pollution
Studies on the health effects of fine particulate air pollution
The exposure to air pollution is experienced in Flanders as one of the most important problems for a person’s health. Solid and liquid phase material suspended in the atmosphere is referred to as ‘particulate matter’ (PM). Our region has the highest annual mean mass PM concentrations of Europe.
Epidemiological studies reported that exposure to fine particulates (PM) increases susceptibility to ischemia and the occurrence of myocardial infarction. The research unit of lung toxicology collected unique data for Flanders on the association of fine particulate air pollution, and total, cardiovascular and respiratory mortality.
Our research intends to investigate the short-term effects of air pollution on pulmonary and cardiovascular parameters (endothelial and platelet function) in a group of healthy elderly in which the parameters will be measured in the same person across seasons on days with relatively high and low concentrations of air pollution (fine particulates) in the ambient air.
Secondly we intend to study whether elderly on medication with anti-inflammatory properties (e.g. statins) are less susceptible of air pollution-induced effects on respiratory and cardiovascular parameters.
Staff
 |
Promotor | Benoit Nemery De Bellevaux, Occupational, Environmental and Insurance Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven |
| Scientific researcher | Tim Nawrot Occupational, Environmental and Insurance Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven |