Cardiorespiratory effects of ultrafine particles

非常严重的空气污染导致人们死亡。虽然澳大利亚大部分城市的空气质量相当好，但颗粒物水平仍然过高。空气中颗粒物的来源很多，包括柴油车和柴火。对于直径小于万分之一毫米的颗粒，有一项国家环境保护措施。然而，最近一些海外研究表明，小于千分之一毫米的微小颗粒可能对心脏和肺有最大的影响。我们将在澳大利亚首次对这些微小颗粒物对健康的影响进行研究。颗粒计数将由CSIRO使用最先进的设备在墨尔本进行测量。将招募两组年龄较大的受试者：患有肺气肿等慢性肺部疾病的患者和心脏病患者。他们会定期进行呼吸测试，或者记录他们的心脏电活动。将对录音进行分析，以检测心率的微小变化。如果我们发现颗粒物计数与肺功能或心率变异性之间的关系，这将为空气污染对健康的影响提供新的证据。在修订NEMP时，可能需要对微小颗粒采取新的措施。然后，可以通过更好地控制柴油废气和更高效的木炉等措施来减少颗粒物数量。

Very high levels of air pollution kill people. Although air quality is quite good in most Australian cities, the levels of particles are still too high. There are many sources of particles in the air including diesel vehicles and wood fires. There is a National Environment Protection Measure for particles less than 10 thousandths of a millimetre in diameter. However some recent overseas studies have suggested that tiny particles less than 0.1 thousandths of a millimetre might have the greatest effects on the heart and lungs. We will conduct the first Australian study of the health effects of these tiny particles. Particle counts will be measured in Melbourne by CSIRO using state of the art equipment. Two groups of older subjects will be recruited: patients with chronic lung diseases such as emphysema and patients with heart disease. They will perform regular breathing tests and-or have the electrical activity of their hearts recorded. The recordings will be analysed to detect small variations in heart rate. If we find relationships between particle counts and lung function or heart rate variability, this will provide new evidence of the health effects of air pollution. When the NEPMs are revised, new measures may be required for tiny particles. Particle counts can then be reduced by measures such as better controlling diesel exhaust and more efficient wood stoves.