Air Pollution

Question 1

Define Evolutionary mismatch

Answer 1

Evolved traits that were once advantageous are now maladaptive due to rapid changes in the environment

Question 2

State how many people are exposed to air pollution

Answer 2

7 billion exposed to hazardous level of air pollution - air particulate comes from all sorts of things

Question 3

State how many deaths are due to air pollution

Answer 3

7 million deaths a year attributable to air pollution

Question 4

Describe the surprising effects of air pollution

Answer 4

Majority deaths are in CVD and not long or respiratory diseases

Question 5

State the two epidemiologic associations with air pollution

Answer 5

10 μg/m3 increase in annual exposure is associated with 15 - 75% increase in mortality due to cardiovascular disease

10 μg/m3 increase in 24hr average is associated with a 2.5% increase in risk of acute myocardial infarction

Question 6

State some components of air pollution

Answer 6

Smelting ore
fossil fuel combustion
Burning agricultural matter

Question 7

Define Chronic exposures

Answer 7

air pollution that accelerate CVD, leads to cute CV events

Question 8

Describe some evidence found for the effects of air pollution

Answer 8

AHA recognise PM 2.5 as a CV risk factor
Curve for risk against exposure - logarithmic

Question 9

Describe the effects of reducing air pollution

Answer 9

Increased life expectancy by 0.6 years
Rapid reduction to many heart diseases

Question 10

State what intervention method is most effective and why

Answer 10

Transitioning to gas or electric cookers - indoor air pollution generated by wood burning fires is responsible for 1.6 million deaths a year

Question 11

Who is most affected by air pollution and the risks it causes

Answer 11

Low and middle income Countries - they account for 94% of Global CV deaths annually

Question 12

What does the future look like with air pollution

Answer 12

Deaths from ambient air pollution expected to double at 2050