News Items

News Item - November 2004

"Air pollution may narrow arteries"

In a recent study by the University of Southern California, researchers have found that certain airborne particulate matter typically found in vehicle tailpipe emissions and other fossil fuel may accelerate the narrowing of arteries. These particles, of size 2.5 micrometers or less, are tiny enough to be inhaled into the smallest of airways.

"Exposure to pollutants, the findings suggest, may play a key role in the development of cardiovascular disease. Nino Kuenzli, associate professor of preventive medicine in the Keck School and initiator and principal investigator of the project, noted that researchers must corroborate the findings in other populations.

'If confirmed, the public health relevance would be enormous," he said. "Arteriosclerosis plays a major role in a broad array of diseases, and almost everybody is regularly exposed to ambient air pollution, 24 hours a day, over a lifetime."'

• Read the Press Release   for this study.
  
  
• Read the Published Paper   of this study.