Do Transient Changes in the Levels of PM2.5 Cause Ischemic Stroke?
Recent attempts to lay pretty much any cardiovascular or pulmonary malady at the feet of fine particulate matter got a boost with JAMA's publication this month of the commentary "Air Pollution as an Emerging Global Risk Factor for Stroke". But what happens when you actually monitor the air for PM2.5 and then compare the levels found to the rate of ischemic stroke? If there's an association you'd think rising levels of PM2.5 would be followed by an increase in ischemic stroke. "Fine Particulate Air Pollution (PM2.5) and the Risk of Acute Ischemic Stroke" found no support for such an association (though it should be noted that an increase was detected among one subgroup: diabetics)
