Expert Panel Warns of Air Pollution’s Heart Dangers

Air pollution has wide-ranging and deleterious effects on human health and is a major issue for the global community.  It is responsible for as many as 3.1 million of 52.8 million all-cause and all-age deaths in 2010.  Importantly, ambient air pollution ranked ninth among the modifiable disease risk factors.  Robert Storey, from the University of Sheffield (United Kingdom), and colleagues warn that airborne particulate matter (PM2.5) are the biggest modifiable contributor to cardiovascular disease, causing inflammation of the lungs and entering the circulation, thereby inflaming blood vessels, provoking clots and causing heart rhythm disturbances. The panel urges people to take steps to protect themselves from breathing heavy traffic fumes or industrial air pollution whenever possible, and public officials to pass laws to reduce air pollution.