Link Between Environmental Pollution and Atherosclerosis Established

For the first time, scientists have established a clear link between environmental toxins, such as dioxin, PBCs, and pesticides, and atherosclerosis. Lars Lind, professor at the Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Sweden, and colleagues investigated the relationship between levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and the prevalence of carotid artery plaques in 1016 people aged 70. Results showed that increasing levels of 7 of the 23 POPs tested for were significantly associated with atherosclerosis, even after adjustment for multiple cardiovascular risk factors. "These findings indicate that long-lived organic environmental toxicants may be involved in the occurrence of atherosclerosis and thereby lead to future death from cardiovascular diseases," said Professor Lind.