Meng Wang, Ph.D.

Atherosclerosis and long-term exposure to air pollution may go hand-in-hand, according to a new study published in Environmental Health Perspectives.

The study, which followed healthy senior adults for a decade, found that chronic ozone exposure increased the rate of atherosclerosis, a condition that can cause stroke, heart attack, and even death. Over time, the study subjects showed greater carotid wall thickness progression and risk of new plaque formation, said study author Meng Wang, Ph.D.

People diagnosed with heart and lung diseases are vulnerable to air pollutants, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Ozone and fine particulate matter can also have day-to-day effects on health, and the latter can trigger a heart attack, stroke, and worsening heart failure in individuals with cardiovascular disease or older adults with medical conditions that put them at risk.

“The implication of this study is that if a senior adult lives in high ozone pollution area for a long period, it’s possible to develop artery diseases,” Wang told McKnight’s. “Therefore, prevention from ozone exposure, especially in summertime, when ozone pollution is more severe than in other seasons is the important take home message.”