空氣汙染與心血管健康

越來越多的證據指出空氣污染是心臟血管疾病的危險因子，2010 年美國心臟學會的共識會議報告，以及台灣過去的研究，在致病機轉上都支持都市的空氣污染與心臟血管疾病的相關性，短期及長期空氣污染暴露，皆會影響到心臟血管健康。面對日益惡化的空氣品質，對於有甚麼好的自然環境可以幫助人類，我們渴求甚殷。台大森林醫學研究團隊研究發現森林環境對心血管疾病、身體免疫系統、和健康相關生活品質，皆有正面的健康效應。亞洲地區的空氣品質在過去二、三十年明顯地惡化，主要來自於快速的經濟發展所帶來的都市化、工業化、與自動車化。如何面對處理都市的空氣污染問題，是具有挑戰性的課題，我們要設法尋求解決方案。

More and more evidence indicates environmental pollutions are important risk factors affecting cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Among these, urban air pollution shares the greatest contribution on human health, which is not only confined to illness but also involved in a higher impact on CVDs morbidity and mortality. The mechanisms linking air pollution to cardiovascular diseases are proposed in the scientific statement by the American Heart Association, and our previous studies also added support to these mechanisms. Short-term urban air pollution has been associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, blood coagulation, and autonomic dysfunction in young adults, and cardiac and vasomotor dysfunctions in middle-aged adults. Moreover, in middle-aged adults, the carotid intima-media thickness and blood leukocyte and monocyte are associated with the individual’s long-term exposure to air pollution of PM2.5 absorbent, PM10, NO2, and NOx estimated by land-use regression models of the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects. These studies provided supporting evidence to the increased risk of CVDs following short-term and long-term air pollution exposure. In search of which kind of natural environments may benefit our health, the Forest and Health Cooperative Study Team of National Taiwan University have demonstrated the potential favorable health effects on subclinical atherosclerosis in terms of carotid intima-media thickness and subjective health-related quality of life in workers living in forest environment compared to those of living in Taipei. Further studies also demonstrated either short-term or long-term exposures to forest environments may positively impact NK cells and NK cell activity in human. Air quality in Asia has deteriorated significantly in recent decades because of rapid industrialization, urbanization, and motorization. How to cope with this critical condition and searching for possible solutions are anticipated.