Exposure to small particulate pollution can increase the risk of blood clots forming in the legs, according to a new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. “It is well-established that air pollution causes myocardial infarction [heart attack] and stroke,” said Andrea Baccarelli, who led the study. “This is the first time that anyone has connected air pollution with deep vein thrombosis.” Researchers found that the risk of blood clots forming in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) increased by 70 percent for every increase of particulate matter of 10 micrograms per square meter. The study authors also noted that blood from people who’ve been more exposed to small particulate pollution coagulates at a faster rate. Researchers said that the findings “give further substance to the call for tighter standards and continued efforts aimed at reducing the impact of urban air pollutants on human health.”
