A new study in the US has warned that long-term exposure to air pollution may increase the risk of developing heart disease.
The study has found people living in areas with more outdoor pollution accumulate deposits in the arteries that supply the heart faster than to people living in less polluted areas.
10-year epidemiological study shows air pollution – even at levels below regulatory standards – accelerates the progression of atherosclerosis.
The condition, also called hardening of the arteries, can cause heart attacks.
Researchers also developed and applied computational models that included local information on land use, roadway and traffic volumes, weather conditions, and local sources of air pollution.