Exposure to air pollutants, even at very low concentrations, was associated with adverse changes in cardiometabolic risk factors in a recent Finnish study.
Exposure to air pollutants, even at very low concentrations, was associated with adverse changes in cardiometabolic risk factors in a recent Finnish study. The main pollutant affecting these risk factors was particulate matter, which can be emitted from traffic and wood burning, amongst other sources. Interestingly, diet quality appeared to modify several associations of pollutants with cardiometabolic health.
The study was carried out at the University of Eastern Finland in collaboration with the University of Oulu, as part of the EU-funded LongITools project. The results were published in Environmental Research.
Of all measured environmental exposures, air pollution is one of the biggest contributing factors to disease and premature death. Most of the world’s population lives in regions where air pollution levels exceed the World Health Organisation’s recommended limits. Furthermore, increases in fine particulate matter, even at levels below the guideline limits, have been associated with increased mortality from cardiometabolic diseases across European cities.
Read More: University of Eastern Finland
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