Long-Term Exposure to Air Pollution Implicated in Clogging of the Arteries
Two large clinical trials in Southern California have been following the progression of atherosclerosis in participants by measuring the thickness of the carotid artery.
Researchers compared this data with the subjects’ annual ambient PM2.5 exposures.
After adjusting for age and other factors, as association was observed between a measure of hardening of the arteries and PM2.5 exposures, suggesting a biological pathway for the relationship between particle exposure and premature death from heart disease.
Researchers caution that PM2.5 may be serving as a surrogate for the mixture of urban air pollution and constituents of PM and that follow up studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Künzli N, Jerrett M, Mack WJ, Beckerman B, LaBree L, Gilliland F, Thomas D, Peters J, and Hodis HN. Ambient Air Pollution and Atherosclerosis in Los Angeles. Environ Health Perspect 2005; 113:201-206.
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