Revealed, how car pollution could raise stroke risk 30pc

CAR exhaust fumes increase the risk of people living in cities suffering, or dying from, a stroke.

A toxic cocktail of gases in the air can raise the likelihood of stroke by up to 30 per cent.

Carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are all pumped out through car exhausts.

They enter the body, damaging the cells which line the circulatory system, which can narrow blood vessels and cause high blood pressure.

The research, published in the British Medical Journal and coproduced by edinburgh University, suggests hundreds of stroke victims admitted to hospital every year may be victims of air pollution.

Almost one in 30 Scots has suffered a stroke, which can rob them of their movement and speech.

Lead author Anoop Shah, of the Centre for Cardiovascular Science at edinburgh University, said: ‘Air pollution can have a very profound effect on people and across the globe it causes one in ten deaths.

‘We already knew it is linked to heart conditions and heart attacks. This study now demonstrates that even short-term exposure to air pollution can trigger strokes or death from stroke.

‘ One of the key differences between risk of stroke due to air pollution and other risk factors such as smoking is that the general population is exposed.’

Strokes are usually linked to obesity, smoking and lack of exercise, but previous studies by the university have shown air quality can increase the risk.

Mr Shah said: ‘When healthy volunteers were exposed to diesel exhaust at levels similar to those f ound i n edinburgh’s Princes Street, we saw changes very quickly.

‘Their blood pressure went up, there was inflammation and the shape of the arteries changed.’

People in developing countries are most at risk from smog in their cities. Those living in Shanghai could see their risk of a stroke leap by up to 30 per cent. Residents of UK cities are more likely to see a 3 per cent increase in risk.

The study is an analysis of 103 studies on air pollution conducted across 28 countries and was funded by the British heart Foundation.

Researchers looked at the link between short-term air pollution and stroke-related hospital admissions and deaths.

Carbon monoxide increased the risk of stroke by 1.5 per cent for every one part per million. Sulphur dioxide increases it by 1.9 per cent for every ten parts per billion and nitrogen dioxide by 1.4 per cent for the same amount.