Abstract
Background: Whether or not inhalation of airborne desert dust has adverse health effects is unknown. The present study, based on a systematic review and meta-analysis, was carried out to assess the influence desert dust on cardiovascular mortality, acute coronary syndrome, and heart failure. Methods: A systematic search was made in PubMed and Embase databases for studies published before March 2020. Studies based on daily measurements of desert dust were identified. The meta-analysis evaluated the impact of desert dust on cardiovascular events the same day (lag 0) of the exposure and during several days after the exposure (lags 1 to 5). The combined impact of several days of exposure was also evaluated. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was calculated using the inverse variance random effects method. Results: Of the 589 identified titles, a total of 15 studies were selected. The impact of desert dust on the incidence of cardiovascular mortality was statistically significant (IRR = 1.018 (95%CI 1.008–1.027); p < 0.001) in lag 0 of the dust episode, in the following day (lag 1) (IRR = 1.005 (95%CI 1.001–1.009); p = 0.022), and during both days combined (lag 0–1) (IRR = 1.015 (95%CI 1.003–1.028); p = 0.014). Conclusions: The inhalation to desert dust results in a 2% increase (for every 10 µg/m3) in cardiovascular mortality risk.
Highlights
According to the World Health Organization (Geneva, Switzerland), mitigation of the adverse health effects of exposure to airborne pollutants has become a worldwide health concern [1]
Special attention has focused on pollution related to combustion sources, which is composed of a mixture of reactive gases (CO, NOx, and SO2, among others) and particulate matter (PM)
We examined whether the dust episodes were associated to the cardiovascular event on the same day as the dust episode or whether there was a lag of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 days in the cardiovascular event with respect to the dust episode
Summary
According to the World Health Organization (Geneva, Switzerland), mitigation of the adverse health effects of exposure to airborne pollutants has become a worldwide health concern [1]. Special attention has focused on pollution related to combustion sources (motor vehicles, industry, biomass burning, etc.), which is composed of a mixture of reactive gases (CO, NOx, and SO2 , among others) and particulate matter (PM) (fundamentally hydrocarbons, organic material, soot, sulfate, nitrate, etc.). Exposure to such PM plays a key role in cardiovascular disorders attributed to air pollution [2]. The meta-analysis evaluated the impact of desert dust on cardiovascular events the same day (lag 0). Conclusions: The inhalation to desert dust results in a 2% increase (for every 10 μg/m3 ) in cardiovascular mortality risk
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