Exposure to air and noise pollution could quadruple the risks of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and other conditions that fall under metabolic syndrome, a Taiwanese study published in Science Reports Wednesday last week showed.
Coauthor Chan Ta-chien (詹大千), a research fellow at Academia Sinica’s Research Center for Humanities and Social Sciences, conducted the study using the health records of 1.7 million people and pollution data in Taipei from 2010 to 2016.
The research revealed that exposure to PM2.5 concentrations of 19.78 micrograms per cubic meter or more for just 24 hours per month was enough to cause a four-fold increase in metabolic syndrome risks, the epidemiologist said yesterday.
Photo: Chang Chung-i, Taipei Times
PM2.5 is particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller.
The same length of exposure per month to noise pollution equal to or exceeding 67.77 decibels doubled metabolic syndrome risks while exposure to both types of pollution increased the risk by 3 percent over simple exposure, he said.
The PM2.5 and noise pollution levels used in the study were the average amount for urban areas near major traffic arteries, Chan said, adding that mixed residential and commercial zoning provides convenience to the detriment of public health.
The government can reduce the negative health impact of air and noise pollution originating from traffic by promoting public transportation and electric vehicles, while people can protect themselves by installing hermetically sealed windows and purifiers, he said.
In addition, green plants on balconies or window boxes can be used to absorb some of the PM2.5 pollution, he said.
In related news, a sustainability project funded by Academia Sinica showed that green curtains made of spider plants, sword ferns and regular ferns could help curb PM2.5 in urban areas.
A prepublished version of the study is available on the Building and Environment Web site.
The research team said that a green curtain consisting of 60 plants, which could be fitted in a 4.5 ping (15m2) balcony could remove 15 percent of PM2.5 in the surrounding air.
The plant types used in the study were selected for their suitability to subtropical climate and minute striations of their leaves that form dew to capture particulate matter, said coauthor Tsay Yaw-Shyan (蔡耀賢), professor of architecture at National Chung Kung University.
The plants do not require washing to perform this function since they are effectively self-cleaning, he said, adding that green curtains suspended on surfaces prevent the plants from taking root in the structure.
People interested in using other plants for their green curtain should use begonia grandis or Japanese honeysuckle, said coauthor Chung Hsin-ying (鍾興穎), associate professor of plant industry at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology.
These plants have layered leaves with fluff and striations which are conducive to forming dew, he said, adding that cactuses and roses are not good as they are too smooth.
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