Ultrafine Particle Pollution Linked to Higher Death Risk, Canadian Study Says

New data says long-term exposure to ultrafine particles in the air of two of Canada’s largest cities causes 1,100 deaths a year. A study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine looked at air pollution levels of ultrafine particles (UFP) from 2001 to 2016 in Montreal and Toronto neighbourhoods. A collaboration of McGill University, the University of Toronto, Carleton University, the University of Ottawa, Health Canada, and Statistics Canada, the study was funded by the U.S. Health Effects Institute. UFP come from vehicle emissions and industrial activities, and there are no concentration limits for them, researchers noted. “Ultrafine particles are incredibly small, allowing them to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream,” said principal investigator Scott Weichenthal. “Increasing evidence suggests these pollutants may contribute to heart and lung diseases, as well as certain forms of cancer.”...