Study Air Pollution Particles, Heart Disease

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http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/40105/story.htm

 

US: February 1, 2007

 

 

BOSTON - Air pollution might help cause heart disease and strokes in

older women, US researchers reported on Wednesday.

 

 

They found women living in areas with high concentrations of tiny

particles of air pollution were more prone to strokes, heart attacks

and other forms of heart disease than those living where the air is

cleaner.

" Our study provides evidence of the association between long-term

exposure to air pollution and the incidence of cardiovascular

disease, " Dr. Joel Kaufman of the University of Washington at Seattle

and colleagues wrote in their report, published in this week's New

England Journal of Medicine.

 

The team, working with the US government-funded Women's Health

Initiative, studied the health records of nearly 66,000 women over

the age of 50 across the United States.

 

" We assessed the women's exposure to air pollutants using the monitor

located nearest to each woman's residence, " the researchers wrote.

 

Each time the concentration of particulates increased by 10

micrograms per cubic meter of air, a woman's risk of dying from heart

disease rose by 76 percent, the researchers found.

 

The study " greatly expands our understanding of how fine particulate

pollution affects health, " Dr. Douglas Dockery and Dr. Peter Stone of

Harvard University wrote in a commentary.

 

" The magnitude of health effects may be larger than previously

recognized, " the researchers concluded.

 

Earlier studies had shown particulate pollution increases the death

rate.

 

The particles in question are so tiny that at least 400 laid end-to-

end would be needed to cover 1 millimeter (0.04 inch). They come from

burning fossil fuels.

 

The reason the particles increase the risk is not known for certain.

Scientists suspect they may cause inflammation in the blood vessels

and the lungs, prompting fatty deposits to build up and clog the

arteries.

 

Other air pollutants including sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone

and nitrogen dioxide, did not increase the heart attack risk, the

study said.

 

 

 

Story by Gene Emery