Cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease[edit]
A 2007 review of evidence found ambient air pollution exposure is a risk factor correlating with increased total mortality from cardiovascular events (range: 12% to 14% per 10 microg/m3 increase).[32]
Air pollution is also emerging as a risk factor for stroke, particularly in developing countries where pollutant levels are highest.[33] A 2007 study found that in women, air pollution is associated not with hemorrhagic but with ischemic stroke.[34] Air pollution was also found to be associated with increased incidence and mortality from coronary stroke in a cohort study in 2011.[35] Associations are believed to be causal and effects may be mediated by vasoconstriction, low-grade inflammation and atherosclerosis[36] Other mechanisms such as autonomic nervous system imbalance have also been suggested.[37] [38]