The impact of Polish smog on public regional health – baseline results of the EP-PARTICLES study

The EP-PARTICLES study was created to assess the impact of air pollution on the health and mortality of the population of Eastern Poland. The biggest cities of the region are Lublin, Białystok, Olsztyn, Rzeszow, and Kielce, whose inhabitants constitute less than 25% of the total population of the analyzed region. The vast majority of air pollution studies to date have been conducted in heavily polluted areas, where patients are exposed to moderate to extreme concentrations of pollutants. The composition of the pollution itself is also not without significance, as it differs significantly from the types of smog we are familiar with. The type of air pollution known as Polish smog is rich in compounds such as PM 2.5 , PM 10 , and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (benzo(a)pyrene) from low emissions associated with household heating with solid fuels (coal, wood, and often also waste) and imposes detrimental effects on the health and life of the population, in particular in the context of cardiovascular effects. In this publication, we aimed to present the baseline results of the EP-PARTICLES investigators’ research up to this point and propose steps aimed at changing the state of air quality and reducing existing exposure. Fields covered so far include atrial fibrillation, acute coronary syndromes