News - National
Smog linked to heart cell death
Posted: Jul 26, 2010 7:55 AM by Bea Karnes, News First 5
Updated: Jul 26, 2010 7:57 AM
A new study finds smog may cause cell death in the heart.
Air pollution has been linked to cardiovascular disease -- but it's hard to narrow down which chemicals are responsible.
This study looked at ozone -- a gas that protects the earth from the sun's radiation and is a major component of smog. Researchers found lab rats exposed to ozone for long periods of time had more heart inflammation and less of a protein that protects heart cells -- than rats who had breathed in clean air.
The study was conducted by researchers at Texas A&M Health Science Center and presented at the American Heart Association's Basic Cardiovascular Sciences 2010 Scientific Sessions - Technological and Conceptual Advances in Cardiovascular Disease.
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