Clean air is good for you...

We’ve long been aware that fine particles in air pollution are destructive to respiratory health. These microscopic bits, composed of dust, soot and a poisonous potpourri of chemicals come from burning fuel in cars, trucks, power plants and factories. They get lodged deep in the lungs, promoting inflammation and raising the risk of all sorts of respiratory ailments.

Now a new study conducted in part by the University of Washington suggests that “fine particulate matter pollution” also dramatically elevates the risk of heart disease. The worse the pollution is and the longer your exposure to it, the greater the risk, says lead researcher Joel Kaufman, MD, MPH, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences at the University of Washington.

BAD AIR IS BAD FOR THE HEART
To examine the connection between air pollution and heart disease, Dr. Kaufman and his colleagues analyzed data from the long-term Women’s Health Initiative (WHI). Participants included more than 65,000 postmenopausal women with no prior history of cardiovascular disease in 36 cities across the US. Researchers compared the women’s health against the air quality in their communities. They found that women living in metropolitan areas highly polluted with fine particulate matter had a 76% higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease than women in areas with cleaner air, after taking into account known risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and smoking.

Although this study analyzed data only from women, there is no reason to think things are different for men, says Dr. Kaufman. Pollution is clearly a negative for everyone’s health.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
Short of staying indoors with windows and doors closed or moving to a less polluted area, there’s little you can do to control your exposure to outdoor air pollution. Currently, some state and local air pollution agencies provide information on small particle levels by the hour at airnow.gov.

We can only hope that these new research results will spur stricter government control of pollutants, as recommended in an editorial accompanying the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine. In the meantime, Dr. Kaufman suggests trying to stay as healthy as you can by focusing on factors within your control — eat sensibly, stay active, maintain an optimal weight and don’t smoke. If you have diabetes, high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol, see your doctor to make sure you are managing these conditions well. Daily Health News contributing editor Andrew L. Rubman, ND, also suggests purchasing a HEPA filter or other air purifier for use in the home to minimize risk. These health-promoting measures keep your body fit and battle-ready for its fight against environmental assaults.

Note: To determine the annual concentration of fine particulate matter where you live, visit the EPA’s Air Trends Web site at http://www.epa.gov/airtrends/factbook.html.

Source(s): 

Joel Kaufman, MD, MPH, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.