Excessive exposure to PM2.5 cost 6,000 lives last year: research

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/12/24
By: Lung Pei-ning and Lee Hsin-Yin

Taipei, Dec. 24 (CNA) More than 6,000 people died of diseases exacerbated by excessive exposure to particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) in Taiwan last year, according to research by National Taiwan University released Thursday.

PM2.5, known to be linked to several chronic health problems, caused the deaths of 2,240 ischemic heart disease patients, 2,140 stroke patients, 1,250 lung cancer patients and 645 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, the research shows.     [FULL  STORY]