Ambient Particulate Matter Pollution and Hospital Visits for Cardiac Arrhythmia in Beijing, China

Cardiac arrhythmia is a serious public health problem in many countries[1].Previous studies estimated that 33.5 million people are affected by cardiac arrhythmia worldwide,and this number will continue to grow as society ages[2].Despite improvements in diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in electrophysiology,the disease burden,incidence and prevalence of cardiac arrhythmia continue to increase and have aroused public health concern.Increasing evidence has indicated that air pollution may be associated with cardiac autonomic nervous system[3].Among air pollutants,particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5) is considered exert more toxicity than other air pollutants,as it provides a larger surface area and absorbs or condenses more toxic substances per unit mass[4].