Honors Theses

Date of Award

Spring 5-8-2022

Document Type

Undergraduate Thesis

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Courtney Roper

Second Advisor

Victoria Zigmont

Third Advisor

Noa Valcarcel

Relational Format

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5), a component of air pollution, has known effects on human health. However, there is limited research surrounding the specific cardiovascular impacts associated with these small particles entering into the bloodstream. This literature review aims to make associations between indoor and personal exposures to PM2.5 and cardiovascular health. An online search was conducted to obtain scholarly articles using various key terms, and the articles were filtered through based on specific selection criteria. In the final review, we focused on 37 research articles which discussed PM2.5 and its effects on the human cardiovascular system. Positive associations between PM2.5 exposures and adverse cardiovascular health outcomes were found in 86% of the included studies. While indoor/personal exposure studies are not as prevalent as studies involving ambient (outdoor) air pollution, it is evident that conducting further research would provide greater insight into the complex cardiovascular health consequences associated with exposure to PM2.5.

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