Air Pollution > Heart Disease Risk

[cojones]

Air pollution link to heart disease

James Meikle, health correspondent

Monday November 8, 2004

The Guardian

Researchers reported a link yesterday between long-term air pollution and the early stages of artery disease in people long before they showed obvious symptoms.

They suggested tiny particles of pollutants from fossil fuels used in motor vehicles and industrial processes such as smelting and processing metals were triggering inflammatory reactions in the respiratory system and blood vessels; and that this began a long process that leads to a hardening of the arteries, then heart disease and strokes.

Nino Kuenzli, an associate professor at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, who presented results to the American Heart Association in New Orleans, said there were enormous public health implications if the theory was correct.

"We knew that many people in more polluted areas die earlier from cardiovascular disease, but it was not clear how early in the disease process air pollution contributes.

"Our study found that air pollution may contribute to cardiovascular problems at a very early stage, similar to smoking, and enhances atherosclerosis, which is the underlying disease process of cardiovascular disease."

The researchers used data from trials run by some of the study team involving nearly 800 people aged 40 or over in and around Los Angeles.

Records included ultrasound measurements of the thickness of the inner lining of people's carotid arteries (in the neck) to assess hardening of the arteries before other symptoms could be seen.

The tests were done on people without any apparent cardiovascular problems, although some clearly had risk factors, such as being smokers, being obese, or having diabetes or some genetic propensity; some were therefore on drugs such as cholesterol lowering treatments.

The team looked at levels of pollutants with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less - PM2.5s - for the areas in which the participants lived, adjusting figures to account for weather and environment.

For every 10 microgramme increase in the PM2.5, the thickness of the lining in the neck artery increased by 5.9%. After adjusting for factors such as age, social class, lifestyle (including active and passive smoking) and physiology, there was still an increase in arterial thickness of between 3.9% to 4.3% for every extra 10 microgrammes of pollutant.

The association between pollution and artery thickness was greatest in women over 60 and those taking cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Dr Kuenzli, of the division of environmental health at the university's Keck school of medicine, said the pollution caused the body to produce oxidants that triggered inflammatory reactions. This could lead to thickening of the artery wall, calcification and plaques - and ultimately ruptures.

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[Dancali]

We all know pollution is bad for us, but I don't think we really consider the implications. This study is really quite frightening. That was a study based on people in LA. One can only imagine what it's like for those of us who live in Bangkok . The pollution is definitely one of the factors that lessons the "free lunch" many find in Thailand.

[ProfessorFart]

Living kills!!!!

Ban it!

More Quasi green propaganda from the Granuiad!

[camerata]

I got bronchitis from Bangkok pollution, which damaged my lungs permanently. A friend of mine developed asthma as a result of pollution. It's definitely something to avoid. By the time you have symptoms, it's too late.

[Dancali]

While everybody has to determine the tradeoffs they make when living in Bangkok, arguments of "Lots of stuff is bad, therefore air pollution doesn't matter" are not convincing.

"We're all gonna die some day anyway, might as well eat anthrax tonight for dinner."

"I watch too much tv, drink too much, smoke too much, etc. I might as well eat anthrax tonight for dinner."

Personally, I put up with the pollution because I have strong overriding factors keeping me here, but it is still a concern.