Intended for healthcare professionals

Research News

Study links air pollution to several new causes of hospital admissions

BMJ 2019; 367 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l6741 (Published 28 November 2019) Cite this as: BMJ 2019;367:l6741

Linked Research

Short term exposure to fine particulate matter and hospital admission risks and costs in the Medicare population

  1. Elisabeth Mahase
  1. The BMJ

Short term exposure to fine particulate matter in the air (known as PM2.5) is associated with several newly identified causes of hospital admissions, even at levels below international air quality guidelines, according to a new study.1

The paper, published in The BMJ, looked at the risks and costs of hospital admission associated with fine particulate matter. It found that exposure was linked to several prevalent but rarely studied causes of hospital admissions, such as septicemia, fluid and electrolyte disorders, acute and unspecified renal failure, and intestinal obstruction without hernia.

The researchers, from Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, are now calling for the World Health Organization to revise its air quality guidelines in response.

WHO’s current air quality guideline for 24 hour average exposure …

View Full Text

Log in

Log in through your institution

Subscribe

* For online subscription