NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Exposure to air pollution increases people's risk of coronary artery disease, which doubles the risk of dying from heart disease, a recent US study shows.
The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Buffalo, and published in the journal "JAMA Network Open" scientific.
To reach the results of the study, the researchers focused on particulate airborne particles of less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter and exposed to people, and their impact on the arteries.
Airborne particles are emitted mostly from industrial sources, as well as car exhaust, wood cooking and smoking, and when inhaled they settle into the lung and move into the bloodstream.
The study was conducted on 8,686 Chinese people aged 25 to 92 years.
The researchers found that long-term exposure to airborne particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide and living near vehicular traffic were linked to the risk of atherosclerosis.
The study found that air pollution increases the accumulation of calcium in the coronary arteries (the arteries that feed the heart), one of the most important risk factors that multiply coronary atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis indicates the accumulation of fatty deposits in artery walls, which over time constrict blood flow through the arteries, which can cause a blood clot leading to a heart attack or stroke.
"This study provides evidence that coronary atherosclerosis is a disease caused by exposure to air pollution, which increases the risk of dying from coronary heart disease," said team leader Dr Meng Wang.
Wang said the discovery should contribute to understanding the effects of air pollutants worldwide, providing locally needed data and supporting evidence for setting standards for addressing the effects of air pollution on a global scale.