Air pollution can cause hardening of the arteries

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A study shows that long-term exposure to air pollution hardens the arteries, raising the risk of heart disease.
It is already known that fine particles in air pollution can damage the lungs by causing inflammation. Now we have the first evidence that particulate pollution can also irritate the lining of the arteries.

A group of nearly 800 healthy subjects had the thickness of the carotid artery in the neck measured and linked with air pollution exposure. Those living where pollution levels were highest had the most hardening and thickening, thereby raising their risk of heart problems. Women were more vulnerable to this kind of damage than men were, as were those taking cholesterol-lowering medication. The findings suggest it is time to do more to protect health by reducing levels of air pollution in our cities.

Source
Environmental Health Perspectives February 2005