A study of laboratory rabbits found that atherosclerosis, a disease marked by cholesterol-lipid-calcium deposits in the walls of the arteries, was accelerated by exposure to PM10, compared to rabbits exposed to clean air.

Athererosclerosis is the leading cause of disease and death in Western societies. The study also found that pollution exposure increased susceptibility to plaque rupture, which can trigger heart attacks.

“Progression of atherosclerosis and increased vulnerability to plaque rupture may underlie the relationship between particulate air pollution and excess cardiovascular death,” concluded the investigators.

Suwa, T., Hogg, J.C., Quinlan K.B., Ohgami, A., Vincent, R., van Eeden, S.F. Particulate Air Pollution Induces Progression of Atherosclerosis. J. Am Coll. Cardiol. Vol. 39, pp. 943-945, March 20, 2002.

The National Library of Medicine [www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez] offers the abstract online.

This entry was posted on Friday, October 11th, 2002 at 1:13 pm and is filed under 2002.