Air Pollution May Hurt Cognition, Increase Strokes

The current federal monitoring system for particulate matter is insufficient to capture regional disparities, Dr. Rajiv Bhatia wrote in an accompanying editorial (Arch. Int. Med. 2012;172:227-28). In addition, data have shown negative health effects from particulate matter exposure below the current ambient air quality standards, which should be reviewed. A risk assessment conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2006 demonstrated a significant reduction in deaths, heart attacks, and strokes associated with lowering the federal standard from 15 mcg/m³ to 14 mcg/m³, he noted.

Dr. Bhatia said that improved control of human exposure to PM_2.5 is "technically feasible, but will require increased efforts to assess exposure at the community level, more stringent and creative regulatory initiatives, and political support." Meanwhile, physicians can be advocates for improving protection in their communities, he said.

Dr. Bhatia is a physician with the San Francisco Department of Public Health. He had no financial conflicts to disclose.