Air pollution causes blood to clot

Very small particles in polluted air - less than one-tenth of human hair - can cause blood clotting, according to research by US scientists in the Journal of Investigation. screened on September 20 to explain how air pollution can cause heart attacks and strokes.

Chimney of a power plant in Chongqing City, China (Photo: Reuters)

The study was conducted by Dr. Gokhan Mutlu of Northwestern University in Chicago (USA). He said: 'Now we know how deadly pneumonia caused by cardiovascular disease contaminants'.

According to Mr. Mutlu, swollen lungs caused by air pollution released interleukin-6, an immune system compound that leads to inflammation and seems to clot blood. Mr. Mutlu took microscopic particles in the polluted air collected by the US Environmental Protection Agency mixed with saline injection into the lab rat lungs. Results showed that 24 hours later, the amount of interleukin-6 in these mice increased 15 times. This time period is very important because some studies show that environmental pollution can lead to heart attack within 24 hours.

Q.HONG