February 20, 2013
Revving up the research into air pollution dangers
Air pollution may contribute to an increased
death rate among heart attack patients, a study has suggested.
Researchers linked records of over 154,000
heart attack survivors with average air
pollution levels. In particular, they looked at fine airborne
particulate matter (PM). The main sources of PM in the UK are
road traffic and industry emissions, including
power generation.
They found that for every ten cubic meter
increase in PM, there was a 20 percent increase in
the death rate of those studied.
We’re currently funding further research in this area
Our
Senior Cardiac Nurse, Maureen Talbot, said: “Air pollution is
greater in some areas of the UK than others and we know that it
can contribute to a number of health problems.
“This study shows an increased risk of death
in people with heart problems when exposed to higher levels of air
pollution. However, we don’t know enough at this
stage to fully understand this relationship.
“We’re currently funding further research in this area, to establish how
air pollution affects the blood vessels and so increase our
knowledge about its effects on the heart.
“In the meantime, we can still do plenty to
look after our hearts by getting plenty of
physical activity, eating a healthy diet and not
smoking.”
This research was published by the European
Heart Journal.