Environmental Health

Air Pollution

Environmental factors contribute to heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States, and other chronic conditions, including stroke, COPD, asthma, and diabetes. Older adults are more susceptible to air pollution than is the general population. Studies have shown a direct relationship between rising levels of particle pollution and increases in medication use, hospitalizations, and premature deaths. Particle pollution (particulate matter) and ozone are responsible for loss of lung function and heart arrhythmias. (One can learn more about the air quality in a community by visiting the Environmental Protection Agency website at http://www.epa.gov/airnow.)

Secondhand Smoke

Secondhand smoke is one of the most life-threatening indoor air pollutants. It is as detrimental to inhale the same dose of secondhand smoke as it is to smoke a cigarette. Each year, secondhand smoke is associated with more than 38,000 deaths from heart disease and lung cancer.

Extreme Heat

Excessive heat events (EHEs) take a disproportionate toll on the health and lives of older adults. More people die from EHEs than from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined. EHEs are prolonged periods with temperatures 10 degrees Fahrenheit (5.5 degrees Celcius) above the average high temperature for a region. These events are life threatening; the longer the event and the higher the relative temperature, the greater the risk. Approximately 80% of heat stroke deaths occur in individuals age 50 years and older. Older adults are at high risk for EHEs because the body's cooling mechanism becomes impaired with age and older adults often take medications further stressing the body. Other factors that increase the risk include living alone, a trend that has been increasing over the past decades for older adults, and being confined to one's bed. Communities are encouraged to establish Heat/Health Watch Warning Systems to identify when a heat-related public health threat is likely and communicate needed steps to protect public health.

Heavy Metals

Lead is a neurotoxicant that accumulates in the body. The health effects from lead include high blood pressure, digestive problems, nerve disorders, memory and concentration problems, and muscle and joint pain. Some research has shown that even very low levels of lead exposure in older women are associated with decreased neurological performance. As bones start to break down during menopause, high levels of lead may be released into the blood. Lead can enter the drinking water through leaded pipes. Unsafe lead levels can occur due to corrosion within household plumbing systems or due to lead being present in community water service lines. Because lead was phased out of gasoline during the 1970s, the major remaining source of lead exposure is found in leaded paints used on houses built before 1978. Home renovation in older homes can pose a health risk to older adults, and safe paint removal techniques are recommended to limit exposure.

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