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Air Pollution, High Fat Diet, Leads to Atherosclerosis in Mice
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Brief Description:
A recent study by the National Institue of Environmental Health Sciences has shown that laboratory mice exposed to high fat diets and fine particle air pollution are predisposed to atherosclerosis.
Transcript:
Thornton: A recent study by the National Institue of Environmental Health Sciences has shown that laboratory mice exposed to high fat diets and fine particle air pollution are predisposed to atherosclerosis. Scientists say these findings might explain why people who live in metropolitan areas or other highy polluted areas have a greater risk for heart disease. Dr. Pat Mastin, Program Administrator with the NIEHS Division of Extramural Research and Training talks about the effects of atherosclerosis.
Mastin: It causes a narrowing of the arteries so it reduces the blood flow and the less blood flow you have to tissue the more likely damage can occur. If the narrowing gets severe enough to where you have a real blockage then you can have a myocardial infarction which is a cause of heart attack, which means a portion of the heart can actually have its oxygen supply removed and the tissue can start to die.
Thornton: Fine particle pollution consists of microscopic particles of dust and soot. The majority of the particles come from motor vehicle exhaust, power plant emissions and other operations involving the burning of fossil fuels. For more information, visit the NIEHS website at www.niehs.nih.gov/home.htm. From the National Institutes of Health, I'm Matt Thornton in Bethesda, Maryland.
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