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Pollution Increases Blood Clot Risk
Air pollution may have other effects on the human population that is yet to be determined.
Exposure to small particulates - tiny chemicals caused by burning fossil fuels - is known to increase the chances of heart disease and stroke.
But the Harvard School of Public Health found it also affected development of deep vein thrombosis - blood clots in the legs - in a study of 2,000 people.
Researchers said the pollution made the blood more sticky and likely to clot.
The team looked at people living in Italy - nearly 900 of whom developed DVT.
Blood clots which form in the legs can travel to the lungs, where they can become lodged, triggering a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism.
The risk of DVT is known to be increased by long periods of immobility. In particular, passengers on long-haul flights have been shown to be vulnerable, but so are people who spend long periods of time sitting at their office desk without exercising, or walking around.
Researchers obtained pollution readings from the areas they lived and found those exposed to higher levels of small particulates in the year before diagnosis were more likely to develop blood clots.
The Archives of Internal Medicine report said for every 10 microgrammes per square metre increase in small particulates, the risk of developing a DVT went up by 70%.
Air quality guidelines generally state that small particulate concentrations should not exceed 50 microgrammes.
Risk factor
Lead researcher Dr Andrea Baccarelli said: "Given the magnitude of the effects, our findings introduce a novel and common risk factor into the development of DVT.
"And, at the same time, they give further substance to the call for tighter standards and continued efforts aimed at reducing the impact of urban air pollutants on human health."
Dr Beverley Hunt, medical director of the DVT charity Lifeblood, said: "We have known for some time that air pollution has been associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
"This study shows for the very first time that air pollution also increases the risk of clots in the veins and tells us why.
"It's an exciting finding because air quality is something we can improve on through tightening air quality legislation."
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (35)
at 17:12 on May 13th, 2008
This is scary considering I just read an article about olympic athletes struggling to perform in Beijing due to pollution.
at 17:32 on May 13th, 2008
Pollution, the dirty face of development.
Despite some success with air pollution, current levels — mainly nitrogen oxide, fine particles and ground-level ozone — are estimated to shorten average life expectancy in Western and Central European countries by almost a year and to threaten the healthy development of children. In Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia, the situation is assumed to be similarly bleak: here most air polluting emissions have increased by 10 % since 2000 as a result of economic recovery, increases in volume of transport and persisting poor effectiveness of air pollution policies.
Osvaldo_Zoom has contributed a photo to this story.
at 18:25 on May 13th, 2008
A doll head which ended up on the end up a stick after the flooding of the Ohio River at the Falls of the Ohio in Louisville, Kentucky. This was one of the things that really struck me in all of the mix of bottles, tires, garbage and other assorted things which really took away from the natural beauty that this place should have to offer.
theeric11711 has contributed a photo to this story.
at 19:13 on May 13th, 2008
This picture was taken out towards Gilbertsville, PA (off rt 100). I'm not sure what factory it was from.
ashleighsheets has contributed a photo to this story.
at 19:25 on May 13th, 2008
Windsor and Detroit are know as the cancer capitals of the world. They're both industrial towns and are full of factories everywhere you look filling our skies and air with chemical compounds that shouldn't be there. I took this while driving down the expressway, this is what I see everyday.
нasн has contributed a photo to this story.
at 19:39 on May 13th, 2008
Taken in Beijing on my walk to work.
Chad Dub has contributed a photo to this story.
at 20:25 on May 13th, 2008
This photo was taken by me on the way to New York City, in New Jersey.
Colby Eliades has contributed a photo to this story.
at 21:07 on May 13th, 2008
This is one of the paper factories in the Indian state of Maharastra. Its up to us now to make sure the pollution norms are put strictly into place and the initiative should begin from everyone not only India but from every part of the world to make the difference that is needed to save our planet earth.
mathurvivek has contributed a photo to this story.
at 21:19 on May 13th, 2008
This picture was taken near Calgary, Alberta, while photographing wildlife in the area. It is sickening that one can go from photographing beautiful birds to pollution belching factories in an instant. I have no doubt that pollution contributes greatly to ill health, and I am sure that researchers are only scratching the surface with recent findings.
J Roc has contributed a photo to this story.
at 21:22 on May 13th, 2008
I was going to the beach and I saw a huge smoke column from a cosmetic factory. The bus ran so fast so I couldn't take a better photo. Who wants to be good looking?
iamhikey has contributed a photo to this story.
at 21:38 on May 13th, 2008
Is this how it goes dad?
andrewkathybrehaut has contributed a photo to this story.
at 22:56 on May 13th, 2008
We find ourselves cloistered, not knowing how do we end what we have started.
dinesh.75000 has contributed a photo to this story.
at 23:00 on May 13th, 2008
Shanghai in April 2008.
I didn't spend too much time in Shanghai and don't dare to say that it always looks like this.
Honza Soukup has contributed a photo to this story.
at 00:23 on May 14th, 2008
This photograph was taken in the early morning on the southside of the scenic River Suir near Waterford City Ireland. The belching smoke from the chimney stack is in stark contrast to the beauty of the surrounding area and is representative of the destructive nature of the Celtic Ireland economy on traditional values such as caring for nature and the environment.
murtphillips has contributed a photo to this story.
at 00:29 on May 14th, 2008
This image was taken of a coal fired power station in Nottinghamshire, UK. As a local photographer I am keen to record environmental images showing the impact of man on the planet.
thefatcat44 has contributed a photo to this story.
at 00:50 on May 14th, 2008
The world was a much safer place a hundred years ago than it is today. One will disagree; stating that life was very tough back then than it is today, stating that the race of mankind had to face the challenges of life by putting their lives in danger. Despite those facts, the nature of this planet was way much safer and way much stable than it is now. Climates have always been changing. But this time there is one big difference: the changes are principally man-made. The issue has become urgent because the pace of change is accelerating.
Continued rates of high population growth, increasing reliance on fossil fuel-driven growth technologies, and, land use effects, (particularly urbanization, agriculture and deforestation) causes global climate change, largely due to increases in concentrations of atmospheric green house gases (GHGs) and aerosols. Together with natural climate variability, long-term climate changes are showing clear impacts on development and ecosystems. Globally, activities that have contributed to climate change are continuing and are adding momentum to changes that will be evident in the future. Therefore, the earth’s climate is very likely to change over the decades to come, with likely adverse effects on human society and nature if we fail to take clear actions to slow it down. Climate change will lead to increased heat stress, a rise in insect-borne diseases, and increases in rates of skin cancer and food poisoning. Globally, climate change already results in about 160,000 deaths a year, and this is likely to rise sharply because of the increasing shortages of food and water.
Sabbaa7i has contributed a photo to this story.
at 00:52 on May 14th, 2008
The world was a much safer place a hundred years ago than it is today. One will disagree; stating that life was very tough back then than it is today, stating that the race of mankind had to face the challenges of life by putting their lives in danger. Despite those facts, the nature of this planet was way much safer and way much stable than it is now. Climates have always been changing. But this time there is one big difference: the changes are principally man-made. The issue has become urgent because the pace of change is accelerating.
Continued rates of high population growth, increasing reliance on fossil fuel-driven growth technologies, and, land use effects, (particularly urbanization, agriculture and deforestation) causes global climate change, largely due to increases in concentrations of atmospheric green house gases (GHGs) and aerosols. Together with natural climate variability, long-term climate changes are showing clear impacts on development and ecosystems. Globally, activities that have contributed to climate change are continuing and are adding momentum to changes that will be evident in the future. Therefore, the earth’s climate is very likely to change over the decades to come, with likely adverse effects on human society and nature if we fail to take clear actions to slow it down. Climate change will lead to increased heat stress, a rise in insect-borne diseases, and increases in rates of skin cancer and food poisoning. Globally, climate change already results in about 160,000 deaths a year, and this is likely to rise sharply because of the increasing shortages of food and water.
Sabbaa7i has contributed a photo to this story.
at 01:02 on May 14th, 2008
This is a steel factory in Piombino (Toscana,Italy).
Antonino Ambrosio has contributed a photo to this story.
at 02:06 on May 14th, 2008
Pollution in China / Shanghai. May 2008...
Yanis Ourabah has contributed a photo to this story.
at 05:49 on May 14th, 2008
This photo was taken from our house with a view of Metro Manila with the smoke coming from vehicles and factories almost covering the skyline. Smoke emission tests on vehicles and inspection of factories must be strictly implemented to stop this pollution.
PINOY PHOTOGRAPHER has contributed a photo to this story.
at 06:46 on May 14th, 2008
Con Edison plant in New York ( east village). This plant has broken many times and leaks into the river
Paul Melcher has contributed a photo to this story.
at 08:43 on May 14th, 2008
Foto tomada en buenos Aires, Argentina, duraante los días en que la ciudad estuvo cubierta de humo proveniente de campos incendiados intencionalmente.
juan-fotos has contributed a photo to this story.
at 09:51 on May 14th, 2008
I took this in Bacau, Romania. There are 2 facories which disturb the nature. Sad!
Iulian Ionescu has contributed a photo to this story.
at 10:00 on May 14th, 2008
Heiky, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 10:38 on May 14th, 2008
Oil Refinery close to Philadelphia International Airport and residential area.
Angelo B has contributed a photo to this story.
at 11:17 on May 14th, 2008
This is the view from hotel room in Shanghai around 7 am. It is not raining or foggy.
Jen Tkacz has contributed a photo to this story.
at 12:08 on May 14th, 2008
Nothing cures from madness like the image of madness.
Often we're unaware of how modern life leads our view of the world to distorted symbols, false aims and empty hopes. I made this image (and others) trying to cure our perceptions with humor, paradox, poetry.
euzesio has contributed a photo to this story.
at 11:04 on May 15th, 2008
Louisville, KY. There is a ridiculous amount of air pollution.
erbearwhite has contributed a photo to this story.
at 18:32 on May 15th, 2008
This is São Paulo (Brazil) from my bedroom window. São Paulo is one of the largest urban regions in the world, with more than 17 million inhabitants, about 2000 major industrial facilities, and more than 6 million vehicles based on diesel, gasoline, and ethanol.
Can you breath here? Neither can I.
Beatriz has contributed a photo to this story.
at 03:49 on May 16th, 2008
Heiky, I like this story. It's good stuff.