Elderly vulnerable to air pollution

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Air pollution affects everyone, but a new study suggests it could be especially dangerous for the elderly.
We already know that air pollution is linked to lung disease and heart attacks. Now a group at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands, reveals that pollution hits the elderly hardest. They looked at a group of 327 males aged 50 to 70 and asked them to fill in a diary for three months, recording their response to air pollution.

They twice daily recorded any symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, sore throat or runny nose. They also had to measure lung function morning and night. The researchers then related the occurrence of symptoms with levels of air pollution. Meanwhile, participants were assessed to see if they had allergy or hyper-responsive airways.

Those who proved positive to tests of allergy or hyper-responsiveness were more likely to have symptoms in response to high pollution levels and also to have worsening lung function. The researchers conclude that this group of elderly people is especially vulnerable to air pollution and more needs to be done to protect them from its effects.

Source
European Respiratory Journal June 2005

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