Study finds PM2.5-linked cardiovascular deaths fell 45% since 2001, disparities persist

Clean air laws have led to a significant reduction in long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution across much of the United States over the past two decades, yet tens of thousands of Americans still die each year from cardiovascular disease linked to polluted air. A new study led by researchers at the Yale School of Public Health (YSPH) shows that air pollution-related cardiovascular deaths are increasingly concentrated among traditionally underserved communities and driven by specific chemical components rather than overall pollution levels.