Study Links Moderate Air Pollution to Higher Heart Disease Risk

Study Links Moderate Air Pollution to Higher Heart Disease Risk
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Canadian cardiologists have found that even moderate levels of air pollution may increase the risk of coronary artery disease, according to findings cited by the Radiological Society of North America.

Researchers said exposure to fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide was linked to increased plaque formation in the coronary arteries, even at pollution levels considered safe or near current Canadian environmental standards.

The study followed 11,100 pre-retirement and retirement-age patients treated at three major hospitals in Toronto between 2012 and 2023. Participants underwent regular cardiac CT scans, allowing researchers to compare heart artery changes with pollution levels in their neighborhoods.

The findings showed that moderate air pollution increased coronary plaque formation by 13 percent and raised the likelihood of coronary heart disease by 23 percent. A rise of one microgram per cubic meter in fine particulate matter was associated with an 11 percent higher risk of accelerated calcium buildup in artery walls.

Researchers said the results suggest that even commonly accepted pollution levels may pose cardiovascular risks, especially for vulnerable groups.