Questions to Tom Bellander Environmental causes of cardiovascular disease Background Several studies suggest that long term exposure to ambient air pollution and noise may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease or affect risk factors, such as hypertension. Environmental tobacco smoke is generally accepted as a risk factor for myocardial infarction. Although excess risks are low, the public health significance is great because of abundant exposure and high incidence. A large case-control study is performed to assess the role of ambient air pollution from motor vehicles for myocardial infarction. Passive smoking is investigated in the same study.
Several studies focus on noise from air craft or motor vehicles as a risk factor for hypertension.