Study suggests fine particulates increase risk of stroke
14 April 2015
While numerous studies have shown that air pollution is associated with cardio-pulmonary mortality, there has been less research into the possible effect of air pollution on stroke and non-fatal coronary events. Results from the Heinz Nixdorf Recall (HNR) study, reported in Deutsches Ärzteblatt International by Barbara Hoffmann and her coauthors, now suggest that fine particulates also increase the risk of stroke.
4,433 residents of Bochum, Essen, and Mülheim an der Ruhr participated in the study. Participants were selected over the time period from 2000 to 2003, and were aged between 45 and 74 years. Information regarding stroke or cardiovascular disease occurrence and/or associated mortality was collected annually.
In addition, the authors evaluated exposure to particulate matter and noise according to participants’ place of residence. The results indicate that stroke is more likely to occur with increased air pollution. The results for coronary events are less clear, and exposure to noise pollution showed no clear effect. The authors point out, however, that the data indicates a tendency for increased risk of cardiovascular disease through particulate matter exposure.
Resources
Hoffmann B, Weinmayr G, Hennig F, Fuks K, Moebus S, Weimar C, Dragano N, Hermann DM, Kälsch H, Mahabadi AA, Erbel R, Jöckel KH (2015) “Air quality, stroke and coronary events—results of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study from the Ruhr region,” Dtsch Arztebl Int 112: 195–201. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2015.0195
Another confirmation that industrial pollution is making us sick. It also lowers our IQ, increases health care cost, lowers productivity and contributes to shorten our general life span.
Posted by: HarveyD | 14 April 2015 at 08:35 AM
@HarveyD: Agree that pollution is bad for one's health. On the other hand, industrialization has led to all the societal developments (improved education, health care, sanitation, etc. etc.) that have greatly increased life spans and vastly increased human productivity. Getting the benefits without the pollution, that is the trick we need to learn.
Posted by: Nick Lyons | 14 April 2015 at 09:02 AM
I agree with you NL.
Meanwhile the IQ of many of our children and grand children is going down, autism, cancer and many other serious diseases are multiplying etc etc.
We will have to spend $$ Trillions to find curative treatments to try to offset what we created and survive..
Posted by: HarveyD | 14 April 2015 at 10:15 AM
China is learning the hard way. Very high local industrial pollution has already created many "cancer villages" where many people are very sick and dying half way through their normal life.
Uncontrolled Mining operations have done the same in USA and Canada a few years/decades ago.
Albertans may have to deal with similar problems soon if cleaner oil extraction technics are not used soon.
Posted by: HarveyD | 16 April 2015 at 10:05 AM