While the jury has never been out on the health implications of a dirty atmosphere, a new study has identified a shocking link to life-threatening medical emergencies.
Researchers at the Queen Mary University, London, looked at data for 300,000 people signed up to have their health tracked for a decade. Participants were located in different parts of the country, ranging from areas with high concentrations of PM2.5 fine particulate matter, to places where levels were deemed safe.
According to this assessment, people living in the worst locations for air pollution were 7% more likely to suffer from a stroke, and 27% more likely to have a heart failure compared with those in the least polluted places. Further analysis of the results led the researchers to determine a sliding scale for particulate exposure, with risk of heart failure rising by 7% per microgram of PM2.5 and 3% for stroke.
Notably, the increased risk was still evident when other factors — for example, smoking status, deprivation, age and lifestyle activity — emphasising the devastating threat to human health from PM2.5. This category refers to particles of 2.5 micrometers or less — small enough to be inhaled, enter the blood stream and continue travelling to internal organs. Road and rail transportation, industrial processes, residential heating and even household maintenance can all contribute to this pollution.
‘We know cleaner air means healthier hearts and this research lays bare the impact of air pollution on public health,’ said Ghita Housni, the study’s lead author. ‘Reducing your exposure to air pollution is a crucial part of preventing heart conditions in the modern age and lowering your risk of heart failure and stroke. We need to improve air quality by introducing public health strategies which strongly prioritise cardiovascular protection.’