A first-of-its kind study conducted in Canada's two largest cities by McGill-led researchers has linked about 1,100 premature deaths per year to an unregulated air pollutant. Ultrafine particles (UFPs) primarily come from vehicle emissions and industrial activities. Canada's federal and have not set concentration limits for UFPs, as they have for larger fine particles known as PM2.
5. "Ultrafine particles are incredibly small, allowing them to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Increasing evidence suggests these pollutants may contribute to heart and lung diseases, as well as certain forms of cancer," said Principal Investigator Scott Weichenthal, an Associate Professor in McGill's Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health.
"However, until now, studies have not examined the impacts of UFPs on mortality in Canada. High-tech tools detect deadly pollution The research team tracked air-pollution levels from 2001 to 2016 in neighborhoods in Montreal and Toronto that were home to 1.5 million adults.
Using state-of-the-art models that combine machine learning methods with ground-level measurements, land use information and aerial images, the researchers estimated how many of the tiny particles were in the air at various times. Then, they used to calculate the connection between exposure and the risk of death. published in the , associate long-term exposure to UFPs with a 7.
3% increase in the risk of non-accidental death. Respiratory deat.