Heart Disease
A new study released by the Heart and Stroke Foundation makes what is claimed to be a clear connection between our atmosphere polluted by carbon dioxide emissions and the prevalence of heart disease among the population. One might have thought that a carbon-polluted environment would be implicated far more heavily on the basis of lung disease, and perhaps that is so, but it's not mentioned by this report, which focuses only on the heart.
Which claims that roughly 70% of some six thousand air-pollution-related deaths are connected to heart disease or stroke. Furthermore, they claim also that this represents a cautious understatement in their expert opinions. "Air pollution is a pervasive and unavoidable health risk for heart disease. All Canadians face it and most are unaware of its short- and long-term impact", according to Dr. Beth Abramson, cardiologist.
According to the research, an increase of fine particulate matter in the minuscule amount of 10 micrograms per cubic metre has the potential of increasing the mortality risk by as much as 76% in some individuals. Being of curious disposition, I would certainly like to have that "some individuals" quotient expounded upon. Those "some individuals" being genetically more disposed to represent the findings?
Barely visible particles of soot suspended in the atmosphere are the culprits. And they're everywhere, inescapable in our modern, technologically advanced society.
Environment Canada's own estimates reveal that some 30% of Canadians are regularly exposed to greater-than-acceptable levels of fine particulate matter. British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec are given fail grades, and Alberta little better, while Newfoundland, Manitoba and Labrador received silver-star B+.
The culprits are, reasonably enough, factory emissions, vehicle and power plant emissions and wood-burning fireplaces.
The atmosphere in summer is more heavily impacted than during the winter months, claims the report. Since 28% of fine particulate matter has its origin in carbon emissions from wood-burning fireplaces operated only during the winter months, that's odd. "Poor air quality represents a particular challenge for our ageing population and those at increased risk of heart disease", says Dr. Abramson.
Does anyone remember reading about the puzzlingly-low incidence of heart disease in Asia? Researchers always attributed that to the prevailing diet, so unlike that of North America. And, as evidence, pointed to the higher incidence of heart disease among Asians who have migrated to North America and lived there awhile.
Japan and China have been notorious for the extremely poor quality of their ambient environment, from smokestack activities and coal-burning. And traditionally, in Japan, homes have been heated with charcoal, so they're high emitters of carbon. Traditional cooking was done that way, as well. In Japan it's still fairly common to see pedestrians wearing face masks to protect against air pollution.
Tiny bits of particulate matter fall constantly within even interior settings throughout the course of a day, in Tokyo. Although the atmosphere has improved from what it was years ago, it's still heavily carbon-compromised. Still, the incidence of heart disease remains lower by far than it is in North America.
What, then, accounts for this disparity?
Which claims that roughly 70% of some six thousand air-pollution-related deaths are connected to heart disease or stroke. Furthermore, they claim also that this represents a cautious understatement in their expert opinions. "Air pollution is a pervasive and unavoidable health risk for heart disease. All Canadians face it and most are unaware of its short- and long-term impact", according to Dr. Beth Abramson, cardiologist.
According to the research, an increase of fine particulate matter in the minuscule amount of 10 micrograms per cubic metre has the potential of increasing the mortality risk by as much as 76% in some individuals. Being of curious disposition, I would certainly like to have that "some individuals" quotient expounded upon. Those "some individuals" being genetically more disposed to represent the findings?
Barely visible particles of soot suspended in the atmosphere are the culprits. And they're everywhere, inescapable in our modern, technologically advanced society.
Environment Canada's own estimates reveal that some 30% of Canadians are regularly exposed to greater-than-acceptable levels of fine particulate matter. British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec are given fail grades, and Alberta little better, while Newfoundland, Manitoba and Labrador received silver-star B+.
The culprits are, reasonably enough, factory emissions, vehicle and power plant emissions and wood-burning fireplaces.
The atmosphere in summer is more heavily impacted than during the winter months, claims the report. Since 28% of fine particulate matter has its origin in carbon emissions from wood-burning fireplaces operated only during the winter months, that's odd. "Poor air quality represents a particular challenge for our ageing population and those at increased risk of heart disease", says Dr. Abramson.
Does anyone remember reading about the puzzlingly-low incidence of heart disease in Asia? Researchers always attributed that to the prevailing diet, so unlike that of North America. And, as evidence, pointed to the higher incidence of heart disease among Asians who have migrated to North America and lived there awhile.
Japan and China have been notorious for the extremely poor quality of their ambient environment, from smokestack activities and coal-burning. And traditionally, in Japan, homes have been heated with charcoal, so they're high emitters of carbon. Traditional cooking was done that way, as well. In Japan it's still fairly common to see pedestrians wearing face masks to protect against air pollution.
Tiny bits of particulate matter fall constantly within even interior settings throughout the course of a day, in Tokyo. Although the atmosphere has improved from what it was years ago, it's still heavily carbon-compromised. Still, the incidence of heart disease remains lower by far than it is in North America.
What, then, accounts for this disparity?
posted by Pieface | 10:11 AM
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