Size-Fractionated Atmospheric Particulate Matters and Mortality:An Epidemiological Review

Numerous epidemiological studies have confirmed significant associations between atmospheric particulate matter (PMs) exposure and an increase of cause-specific mortality.This review systematically expounds that atmospheric exposure to sizefractionated PMs is associated with the most severe health endpoint-mortality.It points out that given the extensively studied relationship between PM₁₀ and mortality,researchers are turning their attention to PM_2.5.However,there are limited data on the comparison between PM_10-2.5 and PM_2.5 and on the health effects of PM_0.1 exposure.PM_0.1 will be an important fraction of future epidemiological studies because of its huge number concentrations.