Spatial and racial/ethnic disparities in cardiovascular mortality attributable to PM(2.5) components in the contiguous United States

Sci Adv. 2026 Jan 30;12(5):eadx2075. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adx2075. Epub 2026 Jan 28.

ABSTRACT

Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) is a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, yet the contributions of its components remain unclear, particularly across geographic regions and racial/ethnic groups. We extended the generalized weighted quantile sum regression model by incorporating two-way fixed effects (gWQS-feglm) to quantify PM_2.5 component-attributable CVD deaths across the contiguous United States. PM_2.5 component-attributable CVD deaths declined from 42,200 (28,200,57,600) in 2001 to 23,500 (15,700,32,100) in 2020, driven by ammonium (NH₄⁺) and sulfate (SO₄^2-) reductions. In 2020, high-attributable-mortality regions remained and regional disparities in PM_2.5 composition pronounced, with NH₄⁺ dominant in California and the East North Central, SO₄^2- in the South, and black carbon and SO₄^2- in the Middle Atlantic. Racial/ethnic disparities persisted, with non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics experiencing slower attributable-mortality declines compared with non-Hispanic whites. Our findings highlight the importance of targeted interventions based on components to address disparities in PM_2.5-attributable burden.

PMID:41604483 | DOI:10.1126/sciadv.adx2075