Can Even Low Levels of Air Pollution Scar the Heart? Study Provides Insight
A new study published in Radiology, the journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), has found that prolonged exposure to fine particulate air pollution is associated with early signs of heart damage. Using advanced cardiac MRI, researchers discovered that even low levels of air pollution may contribute to diffuse myocardial fibrosis, a form of scarring in the heart muscle that often precedes heart failure.
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, and while prior research has linked poor air quality to increased risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular issues, the biological mechanisms behind this risk have remained unclear.
To explore this, the researchers used cardiac MRI, a noninvasive imaging method, to quantify myocardial fibrosis in relation to long-term exposure to PM2.5—fine particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, commonly emitted from vehicle exhaust, industrial activity, and wildfire smoke. The study included 201 healthy participants and 493 individuals with dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition that weakens the heart's ability to pump blood.
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