Living Near Highways Raises Risk of Heart Attacks, Strokes.

Boston residents who live near major highways and are exposed to ultrafine particles spewed from vehicles have higher risks of cardiovascular disease, a new study co-authored by School of Public Health researchers shows.

The study, in the journal Environment International, adds to evidence of the dangers of exposure to vehicle pollutants.

“Our analysis adds to the small, but growing evidence for a role of long-term exposure to UFP (ultra-fine particulate matter) in adverse cardiovascular health impacts,” such as heart attack and stroke, the authors said. They noted that their “significant results for non-Hispanic white populations” are consistent with findings from other recent studies evaluating cardiovascular effects or inflammatory markers among predominantly non-Hispanic white populations.

The researchers analyzed inflammatory markers in blood samples from 408 people, ages 40 to 91, living in three near-highway and three urban background areas in and near Boston. They conducted mobile monitoring of particle number concentration (PNC) in each area, and used the data to develop highly resolved spatiotemporal regression models that accounted for individual time-activity-adjusted annual average PNC exposures. They also adjusted for variables such as body mass index, smoking, and race/ethnicity, known to be risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

The study found differences in risk among diverse racial/ethnic groups. While East Asian residents tended to be the most highly exposed subgroup, white non-Hispanics had larger effect estimates, the authors said.

“Our findings reinforce the importance of studying near-highway PNC exposures and of examining differences in exposure patterns and associations among racial/ethnic sub-populations,” they said.

The study areas included Somerville, Malden, and the Boston neighborhoods of Dorchester, South Boston, and Chinatown—all near the Mass Pike or I-93.

More than 45 million people in the US live, work, or attend school within 300 feet of a major road, airport, or railroad, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.

SPH co-authors on the study include: Kevin Lane, first author, a former SPH doctoral student in environmental health and current post-doctoral researcher at Yale University; Jonathan Levy, professor of environmental health; and Madeleine Scammell and Junenette Peters, assistant professors of environmental health. Other authors are from Tufts University, including Doug Brugge, principal investigator; Rutgers University; the Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership; the Chinese Progressive Association of Boston; and the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service.

—Lisa Chedekel