REDUCTION OF PM2.5 COMPONENTS AND ASSOCIATED CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH EFFECTS VIA AIR FILTRATION SYSTEMS

• Published in: Innovation in aging Vol. 2; no. Suppl 1; p. 886
• Main Authors: Crane, R, Klaver, Z, Li, F, Ziemba, R, Brook, R, Spino, C, Adar, S, Morishita, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: US Oxford University Press 16-11-2018
• Subjects: Abstracts
• ISSN: 2399-5300
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igy031.3305

Ambient fine particulate matter <2.5 µm (PM2.5) exposure is associated with multiple cardiovascular (CV) events including myocardial infarctions, strokes, and ischemic heart disease. PM2.5 can be further broken down into major components such as elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC). OC is primarily derived from mobile sources, biomass burning, and industrial processes. OC has previously shown mixed results with CV outcomes. However, EC, which is a fossil-fuel combustion product often linked to diesel engine exhaust in urban environments, is more likely associated with CV morbidity and mortality. In a recently-completed clinical intervention trial (Reducing Air Pollution in Detroit Intervention Study [RAPIDS]), we evaluated the effectiveness of indoor air filtration to reduce exposure to EC, OC and their potential sources in addition to PM2.5 mass in seniors living in a government-subsidized low-income apartment building in downtown Detroit, Michigan. In this randomized crossover intervention study, 40 seniors were exposed to unfiltered (control), low-efficiency (LE) filtered, and high-efficiency (HE) filtered air. After reporting that both LE and HE indoor filtration effectively reduced indoor PM2.5 mass concentrations by 52% and 60%, respectively, and systolic blood pressure, we conducted detailed physicochemical characterization of indoor PM2.5 samples. Preliminary results demonstrate reductions of 44% and 53% for EC and 42% and 47% for OC using LE and HE filtered air, respectively. Preliminary results also show significant decreases in airborne toxic metal exposures using both LE and HE as compared to the control scenario.