title: Ambient Coarse Particulate Matter and Human Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
abstract: Airborne particles have been linked to increased mortality and morbidity. As most research has focused on fine particles (PM2.5), the health implications of coarse particles (PM10-2.5) are not well understood. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of associations for short- and long-term PM10-2.5concentrations with mortality and hospital admissions. Using 23 mortality and 10 hospital admissions studies, we documented suggestive evidence of increased morbidity and mortality in relation to higher short-term PM10-2.5concentrations, with stronger relationships for respiratory than cardiovascular endpoints. Reported associations were highly heterogeneous, however, especially by geographic region and average PM10-2.5concentrations. Adjustment for PM2.5and publication bias resulted in weaker and less precise effect estimates, although positive associations remained for short-term PM10-2.5concentrations. Inconsistent relationships between effect estimates for PM10-2.5and correlations between PM10-2.5and PM2.5concentrations, however, indicate that PM10-2.5associations cannot be solely explained by co-exposure to PM2.5. While suggestive evidence was found of increased mortality with long-term PM10-2.5concentrations, these associations were not robust to control for PM2.5. Additional research is required to better understand sources of heterogeneity of associations between PM10-2.5and adverse health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, School of Public Health, 1420 Washington Heights - SPHII-5539, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029 USA.
authors.forename: Sara D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Adar
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, School of Public Health, 1420 Washington Heights - SPHII-5539, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029 USA.
authors.forename: Paola A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Filigrana
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, 135 30th St., Boulder, CO 80305 USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Clements
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Campus Delivery 1681, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1681 USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Peel
keywords: Air pollution; Cardiovascular; Case-crossover; Coarse particulate matter; Health; Hospitalizations; Mortality; Respiratory; Time-series