BERKELEY, Calif. (KCBS) - Constant exposure to auto exhaust may be doing more than just affecting your lungs. New research out of U.C. Berkeley shows it might be increasing your risk of heart disease.
Dr. Michael Jerrett, a U.C. Berkeley associate professor of public health, co-authored a study that looked at the impact of auto exhaust on people who live near a major freeway or major road.
"It doesn't really matter whether you're in Los Angeles or the Bay Area, you're going to see elevated levels of pollution close to these major roadways," explained Jerrett.
He says, for the first time, research has shown that air pollution contributes to the early formation of heart disease. The study in the Los Angeles area found that auto exhaust particulates can lead to the thickening of artery walls.
"People of low income and low education were much more susceptible to the effects of air pollution on their arterial walls," Jerrett learned in the course of his research.
KCBS' Dave Padilla reports
Jerrett ays this could increase chances of a heart attack or a stroke. He believes the research might bolster the argument for tightening emission controls in California.
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