Link Discovered Between Particulate Matter Air Pollution and Sleep-Disordered Breathing

Link Discovered Between Particulate Matter Air Pollution and Sleep-Disordered Breathing

Antonella Zanobetti, Ph.D., Joel Schwartz, Ph.D., Brent Coull, Ph.D., and Diane Gold, M.D.,
Harvard School of Public Health
NIEHS Grant P01ES009825

In a study co-funded by NIEHS, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute and the U.S. EPA, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health report for the first time a link between particulate matter air pollution and sleep-disordered breathing, a known contributor to cardiovascular diseases.

Sleep-disordered breathing includes conditions such as apnea and hypopnea and affects approximately 17 percent of U.S. adults, many of whom are not aware that they have a problem. The current studies included over 3,000 subjects and found novel evidence for temperature and pollution effects on sleep-disordered breathing. Increases in apnea and hypopnea were associated with short-term temperature increases in all seasons and with increases in particulate matter air pollution in the summer months.

Specifically, increases in particulate matter of less than ten micrometers in size were associated with about a 13 percent increase in the Respiratory Disturbance Index and with a 20 percent increase in the amount of time the blood oxygen saturation fell below 90 percent.

There is known overlap in factors that contribute to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and sleep-disordered breathing. Previous research has shown a similar association between increases in air pollution and increased risk of SIDS.

These findings are of even greater significance as researchers demonstrate the importance of sleep to overall health and well-being. Air pollution and sleep-disordered breathing are independently associated with increased risk for cardiovascular diseases, strokes, and other major health conditions. Further research is necessary to determine whether particulate matter air pollution produces it negative effects, at least in part, by promoting sleep-disordered breathing.

Citation: Zanobetti A, Redline S, Schwartz J, Rosen D, Patel S, O'Connor GT, Lebowitz M, Coull BA, Gold DR. Associations of PM10 with Sleep and Sleep-disordered Breathing in Adults from Seven U.S. Urban Areas. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2010 Jun 10.
Link Discovered Between Particulate Matter Air Pollution and Sleep-Disordered Breathing