Living near a road, may be even more dangerous to your health than being in other places in a community, especially for children and the elderly.
A recent study published in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation found that heart attack survivors who live less than 100 meters (328 feet) from a major road have a 27 percent increased risk of dying over 10 years than those living at least 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) away.
Other health effects associated with near roadway exposures include asthma, cardiovascular disease, low birth weight, pre-term birth, premature death, reduced lung function, and impaired lung development in children. The study’s authors at the EPA’s Clean Air Research Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, are investigating the health impacts of air pollutants along major roads and other ‘near source’ air pollution sites, such as airports, rail yards, and ports. “In order to protect public health, we need to study near the sources of air pollution so that we can provide solutions for reducing or minimizing exposure and potential health impacts,” says Dan Costa, the national program director for EPA’s Air, Climate, and Energy research program.
Read the study: Residential Proximity to Major Roadway and 10-Year All-Cause Mortality After Myocardial Infarction
Tags: American Heart Association, clean air, EPA
