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(NaturalNews) Diesel fumes interact with fatty acids found in LDL ("bad") cholesterol to raise the risk of heart disease, according to a study published in the online journal "Genome Biology."
On their own, both diesel fumes and certain fatty acids contained in LDL cholesterol create free radicals in the body. These free radicals damage cells and tissue, leading to the inflammation that can cause cardiovascular disease.
In the new study, researchers at the University of California-Los Angeles found that the combination of diesel and the fats was far more dangerous than either factor separately.
"Their combination creates a dangerous synergy that wreaks cardiovascular havoc far beyond what's caused by the diesel or cholesterol alone," said lead researcher André Nel.
The researchers first combined diesel pollutants with the fatty acids and added them to a culture of cells from the inside of human blood vessels. They found that the mixture activated the genes that promote cellular inflammation.
Then the researchers exposed mice with high cholesterol to diesel particles. In response, many of the same genes were activated in the mice's bodies.
Researchers said that the exact mechanism by which pollution leads to heart disease is still unknown.
"We do know that these particles are coated with chemicals that damage tissue and cause inflammation of the nose and lungs," Nel said. "Vascular inflammation in turn leads to cholesterol deposits and clogged arteries, which can give rise to blood clots and trigger heart attack or stroke."
According to Cathy Ross, a cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, it has long been known that air pollution increases a person's risk of death from cardiovascular disease. "Anyone with chronic lung disease or coronary heart disease should avoid staying outside for long periods when pollution levels are high," she said.
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