Pollution - an underestimated health hazard?

This week The British Heart Foundation has highlighted research by Prof. David Newby on arterial disease. The study focussed on 100,000 people and looked at how arterial disease was effected by air bourn pollution (1).

Pollutants damage the inner lining of arteries (the endothelium) causing the repairing cholesterol to stick to the walls and potentially block the artery.

No surprise that they found a 13% increase in disease in those exposed to toxins and contamination. Not a marked increase in risk, they argue, but let's consider some other facts, including how pollution is associated with other areas of health.

Pollutants are not confined to manmade things. Biological pollutants found in our households must be considered and these include moulds, fungi, algae, faeces from dust mites, cockroaches and bacteria. Fur from cats, dogs and other pets as well as feathers from birds all contribute, and volatile organic compounds from computers and household bleaches, detergents and cleansing fluids as well as tobacco smoke can all cause problems. Smoking accounts for, or is associated with, up to one-third of cancers and 90% of lung cancers. (6)


Breathing and Lung Health

There are many types of pollution but two are particularly damaging

One is called Reducing Pollution and the other is Oxidizing Pollution. The reducing type contains sulphur oxides, sulphuric acid, sulphate salts from industrial pollution and other suspended particles from fuels. This type has been associated chronic heart or lung disease including chronic obstructive airway disease.

Oxidising pollution comes from automobile exhaust and also contains oxides of nitrogen and hydrocarbons. These are transformed by sunlight into secondary compounds such as ozone, aldehydes and ketones.

Studies show these interfere with detoxification enzymes, enhance inflammatory responses and reduce the cellular defence mechanisms. Ozone is produced through these pollutants and along with nitric oxide are associated with emphysema. Hydrogen sulphuric acid and acid aerosols impair clearance of mucous and particles from the lungs making asthma and bronchitis worse (2,5). The interaction between air pollutants and carcinogens, such as smoking and other exposure, can increase lung cancer risk considerably. The destruction of the ozone layer which absorbs ultraviolet B radiation may increase the risk to skin cancers including melanoma (6).

Atopic individuals (those with asthma, eczema and/or hay fever) often react to yeasts, fungi and pollens. 


So What Can We Do?

Avoidance

It is important to do our best to avoid pollution. If we live in contaminated areas like cities try to get out to the country or the sea side as much as possible.

• Use air filters and humidifiers - controlling humidity can reduce interior levels of fungi and yeasts.
• Remove carpeting and upholstered furniture as much as possible.
• Vacuum as much as possible including mattresses and pillows.
• Reduction of smoking will help reduce indoor pollutants considerably. Check gas stoves are not leaking - a major source of nitrogen oxide. The proper type ventilation of any space heater or wood stove will decrease levels of a variety of indoor pollutants.
• Avoid allergens – possibly and sadly consider giving pets to a loving home if sensitised(4).

Exercise considerations

Avoid exercising outdoors at peak times of pollution concentration such as rush hour. Choose exercises that can be performed in a warm, preferably humid, environment. If out in cold weather wear a scarf or an industrial type disposal mask over the mouth to limit exposure of cold air and pollutants. Exercise inside when pollutants or allergen levels are high outside (3).


Consider investigations

Are your arteries stiffening or clogging up?

Ultrasound of arteries is now readily available through inexpensive scanning companies and occasionally via the NHS and your GP.

Although stress/exercise ECG’s are a ‘gold standard’ test for heart blood supply I recommend my patients use the Arteriograph. The Arteriograph is a diagnostic instrument which is able to measure the severity of arteriosclerosis. It is a simple and painless, non invasive investigation that can diagnose arteriosclerosis at an early stage.

http://www.drsharmadiagnostics.com/arteriograph.htm

Blood tests can be used to measure pollutants. Acumen Laboratories test for white blood sensitivity to yeasts and fungi, petrol exhaust and natural gas, a range of house hold detergents and plastics as well as pesticides.

A urine test for hepatic detoxification activity can determine if you are detoxifying well and Genomics (tests on genes that can be altered by life style and diet) can give information on how best to supplement you life to optimise detoxification


So Why Are We All Not Advised About this?

Sadly it might boil down to money. Estimates have suggested that to control toxic emissions and develop programmes would cost 146 times more to save a year of life as opposed to the cost of medical intervention to do the same. It may even boil down to facts such as reducing synthetic pesticides would make fruits and vegetables more expensive, which would decrease consumption and increase the cancer rate, especially among those less able to afford healthy foods (7).


References

1. http://www.bhf.org.uk/default.aspx?page=16753
2. Non-Carcinogenic Health Effects of Air Pollution: A European Prospective", Viegi, G., Tubercle and Lung Disease, 1994;75:83-84
3. How Pollution and Airborne Allergens Affect Exercise", Gong, Henry, Jr., M.D., The Physician and Sports Medicine, July 1995:23(7)35-42.
4. Air Pollution in the Home: What to Advise Your Patients", Bardana, Emil J., Jr., M.D., The Journal of Respiratory Diseases, July 1994;15(7):612-618.
5. "Oxygen Radicals and Air Pollution", Hippeli, Susanne and Elstner, Erich, Oxidative Stress: Oxidants and Antioxidants, 1991;Chapter 1:3-55.
6. "Environmental Pollution, Pesticides, and the Prevention of Cancer: Misconceptions," Ames, Bruce N. and Gold, Lois Swirsky, FASEB Journal, 1997;11:1041-1052.
7. "Air Pollution and Human Cancer", Tomatis, L., World Health Organization, International Agency For Research on Cancer, 1991;1-7.

We may be exposed to over 700,000 chemicals a day in our homes.

Our clothes and furniture are impregnated with pesticides (when did any of us last see a mothball?) and fire retardants are added to household fabrics. Even the wood in our house is full of preservative. Our computers, when on and hot, are releasing volatile oxidative compounds, and when we heat our wonderfully well-insulated houses all of these chemicals vaporise and release into the draft-free, airless atmosphere.

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