Air Pollution Triggers More Heart Attacks Than Cocaine: Study

Air pollution triggers more heart attacks than cocaine use, a recent study finds. While cocaine users certainly shouldn't be celebrating, people living in cities with high pollution levels should be concerned.

Tim Nawrot of Hasselt University led the study, published in The Lancet journal, which examined the proportion of total heart attacks that were caused by specific triggers (population-attributable fraction). The highest risk fractions were traffic exposure, physical exertion, alcohol, coffee, and air pollution. Cocaine use, anger, and sex were listed after the other factors.

According to Reuters, this study demonstrates that while cocaine use may still be most likely to trigger an individual heart attack, it's crucial to look at population-wide factors as well, such as air pollution. The researchers state in The Lancet, "In view of both the magnitude of the risk and the prevalence in the population, air pollution is an important trigger of myocardial infarction [heart attack], it is of similar magnitude (PAF 5--7%) as other well accepted triggers such as physical exertion, alcohol, and coffee."

Meanwhile, Congressmen Fred Upton and Ed Whitfield are fighting to eliminate pollution standards by cutting Clean Air Act provisions in the U.S. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution causes around 2 million premature deaths worldwide every year. The good news and the bad news is that human beings have control over changing these death statistics.

Comments

[sunsetter]

11:29 AM on 02/28/2011

Funny how these studies are devoid of actual numbers - notice they use a worldwide "estimate" of 2 million. Impossible to prove or disprove. So we should side with caution? EVERY studies author says this.

What is the link between cocaine and pollution? There is none. This is sensational journalism at it's finest.

[stemcellcure]

04:31 PM on 02/26/2011

Fortuately, we now have stem cells to save us from our bad habits. Stunning results for Cephalon's cardiac stem cell drug were just published in Nature. Revascor reduced MACE (Major Adverse Cardiac Events : chest pain, heart attack, death, etc) by an unprecedented 84%, virtually curing heart disease with one injection. If you can afford it, the drug has already been approved for treatment in Australia. http://bit.ly/i1pYmr

[Michael Mann]

04:22 PM on 02/26/2011

One more reason to expand the use of clean, safe, reliable, nuclear power.

[LALC]

09:03 PM on 02/25/2011

That's right, so let's repeal the Clean Air Act, eliminate EPA so gov can save big bucks & big business can save big bucks & cost us even bigger bucks! Whew!

[juna]

11:17 PM on 02/25/2011

Yes, that's the way these things really are. Now corporations are counted as persons! But the corporate identity will eventually crumble.

[European1919]

03:28 AM on 02/25/2011

Admittedly I'd rather snort coke than polluted air ;-D

[janejoy]

09:17 PM on 02/24/2011

Doesn't surprise me. I have traveled to many third world countries and the air quality is so poor that you realize how much you take for granted in the U.S. and having regulation of emissions etc. I used to think it was ridiculous when I used to see the foreign news and how people wore face masks and I thought they were germophobes, but now I know why. The air is so bad....

[mzrecycle]

08:07 AM on 02/25/2011

Yes, like you I've traveled to areas with horrendous air pollution. When in India's cities, it struck me that the U.S. would have the same terrible air if not for the efforts in the 60's to set air quality limits, to improve car emissions, etc.
I was there for 2 months and took herbal supplement that helps clear lung congestion and wore a mask while traveling in the open air auto-rickshas. I also wore an Indian scarf around my neck always when walking so if a bus went by I could grab and bunch the scarf and breath thru it, filtering the smog a bit.

[janejoy]

06:57 PM on 02/25/2011

yep -makes you realize how important regulating emissions is....my eyes were constantly tearing and swollen and I had coughing fits...

[18wheeler]

08:38 PM on 02/24/2011

I lived in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in the early 90's. Worked and lived in the Avenida Paulista neighborhood. I remember reading a study that claimed that in a year's time over 100 kilograms of solid pollution passed thru my lungs... And they say smoking will kill me... Living will kill me faster...

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

07:55 PM on 02/24/2011

If this was true, Charlie Sheen would be dead already. based on the following scientific formula:

Sheen + LA Smog + Cocaine = Living, Breathing Dope

[landskroon]

05:54 PM on 02/24/2011

In the USA it seems easier to fight drugs by a war against drug than take care of civilians.

[isis]

05:34 PM on 02/24/2011

It's time for people to start sticking up for themselves.

[Chuck Rewalt]

05:14 PM on 02/24/2011

A bizarre solution to population control in this world. We are our own worst enemy...

[Aripottah]

04:37 PM on 02/24/2011

How about no cocaine as well as no air pollution? Sounds like a winner to me.

[lightningbolt]

03:45 PM on 02/24/2011

The republicans want to eliminate the EPA and its ability to regulate air pollution.  Basically, the republicans want us all to D I E for the profits of their corporate masters.

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

07:57 PM on 02/24/2011

And leave it up to the states, who created the Federal Government and sadly, Nixon created the EPA.

[lightningbolt]

08:24 PM on 02/24/2011

The EPA is probably the only good thing Nixon ever did.

[mzrecycle]

08:10 AM on 02/25/2011

The EPA USED to be dedicated to protecting the environment and the American people...

[TheN8tureBoy]

03:36 PM on 02/24/2011

Could it be that more people are around high pollution areas than are using cocaine? Is the study based on percentages or hard number counts?

[mycotropic]

03:54 PM on 02/24/2011

The early release Lancet article is linked in the text, go read it, the cocaine stuff is incidental.

[MJinCanada]

05:21 PM on 02/24/2011

You can choose whether or not to use cocaine. You cannot choose not to breathe the air where you live. Higher hard numbers do make higher percentages.

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

07:58 PM on 02/24/2011

You can choose to move