Essen, Germany – Long-term exposure to particles from traffic pollution may increase the risk of heart disease, finds a new study from the West-German Heart Center.
Using data from a German cohort study involving more than 4,000 people, researchers analyzed the relationship among the proximity to roads with high traffic volume, exposure to particle pollutants and traffic noise, and heart disease. Results showed exposure to fine particle matter and road traffic noise were independently associated with an increase in hardening in the arteries.
The study was presented at the European Society of Cardiology’s EuroPRevent 2013 in Rome.
