How Highway Air Pollution Affects Your Health: Study Finds Link to Increased Blood Pressure

Are you aware that not only does driving on a highway increase your blood pressure, but breathing polluted air from all the traffic can also have the same effect? A study in the Annals of Internal Medicine discovered that inhaling unfiltered air from highways significantly raised passengers’ blood pressure and could continue to affect them for up to 24 hours. Perhaps it’s time to consider getting a new cabin air filter.

It’s well known that long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution is linked to higher rates of asthma, cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and death. New research from the University of Washington revealed that being exposed to diesel exhaust fumes raised blood pressure while driving and even after reaching their destination.

Dr. Joel Kaufman led the study and explained, “The body has a complex set of systems to regulate blood pressure to your brain, and traffic-related air pollution seems to interfere with this mechanism.”

The University of Washington team conducted the study by driving healthy participants through rush-hour traffic in Seattle and monitoring their blood pressure. The participants were exposed to unfiltered road air on two trips and a high-quality HEPA filter on the third trip. Breathing unfiltered air resulted in a significant increase in blood pressure compared to driving with filtered air.

The increase in blood pressure was rapid, peaking about an hour into the drive and, in some cases, lasting for at least 24 hours. Dr. Kaufman highlighted the significance of these findings, stating, “Modest increases in blood pressure like this are associated with a significant increase in cardiovascular disease on a population level.” He added that understanding the impact of roadway air pollution on blood pressure is an important piece of the puzzle in addressing heart problems caused by air pollution. So, be aware of the air you are breathing while driving and consider investing in a good quality air filter for your car.

Reference

Olivia Carter

Olivia Carter revs up excitement in the world of NASCAR. As a dedicated motorsports enthusiast, she covers race results, driver profiles, and the latest developments in the NASCAR world, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.