Even Moderate Air Pollution Could Trigger Severe Heart Attacks: Study
New findings link modest particulate pollution to heart risks in people with coronary disease.
Air pollution in Utah. Modest levels of particulate matter have been linked to increased heart attacks.
Photographer: George Frey/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Even moderate levels of air pollution have now been linked to increased risk of heart attacks in people with heart disease. That's according to new research presented Sunday at the American Heart Association's annual conference.
Researchers analyzed 20 years of data on 16,000 heart attacks treated at Intermountain Healthcare in Utah. They matched the medical records to weather data on fine particulate matter 1447084834415 in the air. That's the kind of pollution that comes from burning fuel in vehicles or power plants, or other sources, such as wildfires.