Which sources and types of fine particle air pollution raise hospital risk for older adults
Hospital admissions risks from fine particulate matter by source sector, fuel type, and components: A national analysis
This project looks for which sources, fuels, and chemical components of fine particle pollution are linked to more heart and lung hospital visits among people aged 65 and older.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11252801 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We will analyze nationwide Medicare records for people 65+ and connect those hospital admissions to detailed maps of fine particle (PM2.5) pollution by source sector, fuel type, and chemical component. The team will combine two large datasets — Medicare claims (>60 million people) and the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (>200,000 people with richer information) — to compare risks across different particle types. Advanced statistical methods and cross-validation will be used to separate the impacts of particles from different sources and to quantify uncertainty. Findings are intended to show which pollution sources and components are most linked to cardiovascular and respiratory hospitalizations in older adults.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for relevance to this work are U.S. residents aged 65 or older, especially those with existing heart or lung conditions or who live in areas with varied air pollution sources.
Not a fit: People under 65 or those without meaningful exposure to fine particle pollution are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could help shape air quality policies that target the most harmful kinds of particle pollution and reduce hospitalizations for older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Past research has linked overall PM2.5 levels to heart and lung hospitalizations, but most studies treated all particle mass the same, so this larger, source-specific nationwide analysis is more detailed than most prior work.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bell, Michelle L — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Bell, Michelle L
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.