Intended for healthcare professionals

CCBYNC Open access

Rapid response to:

Research

Long term exposure to ambient air pollution and incidence of acute coronary events: prospective cohort study and meta-analysis in 11 European cohorts from the ESCAPE Project

BMJ 2014; 348 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f7412 (Published 21 January 2014) Cite this as: BMJ 2014;348:f7412

Rapid Response:

Re: Long term exposure to ambient air pollution and incidence of acute coronary events: prospective cohort study and meta-analysis in 11 European cohorts from the ESCAPE Project

What about the UK
I am grateful to Mr Quentin Bush (rapid response, 23 Jan) for stimulating me to read the paper. The paper, together with Mr Bush's commentary raises a few awkward questions:
1. Did the authors not try to enlist collaboration of BRITISH cardiac epidemiologists?
2. On the assumption that the fuel used by US airlines flying to, or via, British airports use the same type of fuel as our own (formerly) flag-carrier, will the minister for Public Health here in England issue a public statement, assuring the residents of houses under the flight paths, that their health is safe in her hands?
3. Are there air pollution monitoring units, capable of monitoring the pollutants (referred to in the article and Mr Bush's response) under the flight paths of Heathrow? If so, do they report to the local Director of Public Health? And to to the Medical Adviser of the Mayor of London?
4. Has Public Health England ( a new-born babe) any plans to take an active role in this matter?

Competing interests: No competing interests

26 January 2014
JK Anand
Retired doctor
Free spirit
3 Wayford Close, Peterborough