Short-term Exposure to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter Increases Hospitalizations and Mortality in COPD

Our combined analysis indicated that short-term exposure to a 10-μg/m3 increment of ambient PM2.5 is associated with increased COPD hospitalizations and mortality. Further study is needed to elucidate to what extent this relationship is causal, together with other factors, and to elucidate the mechanism by which PM2.5 induces activation of cellular processes promoting COPD exacerbations.