High levels of air pollution create a serious risk of heart attack, even over a short period of time, according to research at University Hospital Jena in Germany.
Scientists investigating the link between nitric oxide levels and heart health found even cities typically low in pollutants can be dangerous if there is a spike in emissions. In Jena, a city that only exceeds pollution limits on a few days each year, the risk of heart attack more than doubled within 24 hours of a rapid increase in nitric oxide in the air.
Regular HVAC maintenance can help reduce the risks associated with high pollution levels, as air conditioning and ventilation systems can filter harmful particles. Employers in cities such as London, where limits are regularly exceeded, are generally aware of the need for effective filtration.
But the new research shows even those in lower-risk areas need to take precautions, as rapid increases cannot be reliably predicted. Professor Metin Avkiran, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said the study highlights the “daily danger” people face when they breathe dirty air.
“We already know that air pollution, including various gases and small particles, contributes to an estimated 40,000 premature deaths in the UK each year,” he said. “This research indicates that even temporary increases in nitrogen dioxide levels may elevate the risk of having a potentially fatal heart attack.”
Creating safe spaces
Medical data for around 700 heart attack patients was compared to emissions data over a 24-hour period before occurrence of the first symptoms. Senior author Dr Florian Rakers said the team was “surprised” by the strength of the link, with a nitric oxide concentration increase of 20 micrograms per cubic meter doubling the acute risk of heart attack.
Last year, founder of Clean Air in London Simon Birkett called for building owners to consider filtration in terms of the benefits of greater health and productivity, rather than the cost of installation or energy use. He suggested buildings could become “safe spaces” through greater recognition of the role air conditioning and ventilation can play, as pollution levels continue to rise.
For more information about how HVAC maintenance and repair can help protect your staff from dangerous levels of nitric oxide, click below to contact the 361 Servicing team.
