What is particularly noxious about vehicle exhaust pollution?
Precisely how these chemicals affect cardiovascular health is still being worked out, but some key mechanisms are beginning to emerge. These pollutants are enriched in chemicals that can cause oxidative stress, and the subsequent inflammation can be destructive to cells and tissues. Other chemicals can attack biomolecules and irreversibly damage critical proteins – such as antioxidant enzymes – and DNA, which leads to mutations. Finally, particles emitted near traffic sources are much smaller, coated with toxic chemicals, and capable of high rates of deposition and retention in the lungs. These effects promote adverse cardiovascular responses, including increased blood pressure and cardiac ischemia, which can result in heart attacks and strokes. Q: The implication is that the closer you live to freeways and high-traffic-volume streets, the greater the risk. Is there a “danger zone”? A: Certainly, the nearer you are to sources of traffic-related air pollutants, the higher your exposure
