Ultrafine Particles Linked To Deaths: Canadian Study August 10, 2024

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By AFP - Agence France Presse

Ultrafine Particles Linked To Deaths: Canadian Study

Air pollution caused by "ultrafine particles", emitted by cars and industrial activities, has been linked to 1,100 deaths a year in Montreal and Toronto, according to new Canadian research.

The so-called UFPs - 1,000 times finer than a strand of hair - have been found to cause cardiovascular disease and are linked to cancer in adults, while exposure can increase the rate of low birth weight babies.

The research, published earlier this week in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, was the first of its kind in Canada.

"The ultrafine particles are incredibly small, which allows them to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream," Scott Weichenthal, lead researcher of the study and professor at McGill University, told AFP.

The researchers measured air pollution levels in Toronto and Montreal, in neighborhoods home to a total of 1.5 million adult residents, between 2001 and 2016.

The study found that long-term exposure to UFPs is correlated with a 7% increase in the risk of non-accidental deaths.

Areas located near major highways, airports, and railway yards, in particular, showed high concentrations of UFPs, according to the study, which is in line with results obtained by researchers in Europe.

"Our research shows a clear link between long-term exposure to UFPs and increased mortality risk, highlighting the urgent need for regulatory action targeting these particles," said Weichenthal.

UFP emissions are not regulated by air pollution standards, unlike larger "particulate matter" whose dangerous health effects are better understood.

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