Air Pollution Is Linked To Heart Disease
Posted: Wednesday, August 31, 2011
by Dr K K Aggarwal
Heart Care Foundation of India
The air pollution is linked to heart disease said Padmashri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal President Heart Care Foundation of India and MTNL Perfect Health Mela.
Here is the evidence
1. Women's Health Initiative Observational study database of more than 65,000 post menopausal women without prior heart disease has shown that each 10 µg/m3 increase in pollution concentration increases the risk of any cardiovascular event by 1.24, death from heart disease by 1.76 ad paralysis by 1.35.
3. In Dublin, Ireland ban on coal sales led to a 70 percent reduction in black smoke concentrations and adjusted cardiovascular deaths fell by 10.3 percent in the six years after the ban.
4. Short-term exposure to air pollutants (both ozone and fine particulate matter) is associated with acute coronary ischemic events.
5. A short-term increase in fine ambient particulate matter has been shown to precipitate acute ischemic coronary events.
6. Carbon particulates in the air from the burning of fossil fuels, wood, and other materials scatter and absorb UVB rays. Ozone absorbs UVB radiation, so holes in the ozone layer can lower vitamin D levels and future heart disease.
Possible mechanisms by which fine particulate air pollution may increase the risk of heart disease
1. An increase in mean resting arterial blood pressure through an increase in sympathetic tone and/or the modulation of basal systemic vascular tone
2. An increase in the likelihood of intravascular thrombosis through transient increases in plasma viscosity and impaired endothelial dysfunction
3. Initiation and promotion of atherosclerosis
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