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  • Photo of jonbarron

    Air Pollution Leads to Blood Clots

    http://www.jonbarron.org/blog_published/2008/06/air_pollutio...

    A recent study out of the Harvard School of Public Health found a strong link between air pollution and deep vein thrombosis (DVT)--a dangerous type of blood clot that forms in the thighs or legs and can travel to the lungs. After comparing health records of 870 people diagnosed with DVT in Lombardy, Italy, to the records of 1210 people who did not develop clots, the research team discovered a dramatic rise in risk factor at pollution levels far below the EPA's standard for particulate air pollution. The lowest level of pollution recorded in the study was 12 micrograms per cubic meter of air; the EPA standard is 150 mcg per cubic meter. The researchers found that for every 10-microgram increase in pollution above the 12-mcg level, risk goes up by 70 percent. Study director Dr. Andrea Baccarelli, said "It is well-established that air pollution causes myocardial infarction [heart attack] and stroke. This is the first time that anyone has connected air pollution with deep vein thrombosis." The dangerous particulate matter causing the problems is usually a blend of microscopic particles from sources such as vehicle emissions, particularly diesel, the burning of industrial fossil fuels, as well as from woodstove fires, dust storms, and natural fires. The effects of inhaling air pollute with particulate matter are much like the effects of breathing second-hand smoke. Because the particles are so small, they can lodge in lungs and internal organs and travel in the bloodstream like oxygen. Scientists already knew that pollution spikes the incidence of lung problems ranging from asthma complications to lung cancer. And studies have found that exposure to pollution from car fumes triples the risk of heart attack in heart-attack survivors. The EPA says that 65,000 Americans suffer pollution-related cardiac problems each year. Those estimates seem quite conservative in the face of a new study released by the California Air Resources Board, which found that 24,000 deaths annually in California result from chronic exposure to pollution. Chief researcher Bart Croes said, "Our report concludes these particles are 70% more dangerous than previously thought, based on several major studies that have occurred in the last five years." According to the LA Tiimes, "....rates of heart attacks, strokes and other serious disease increase exponentially after exposure to even slightly higher amounts of metal or dust." And other sources, notably Dr Robert D Brook of the University of Michigan, say that air pollution ranks number 13 among the world's killers. Now, we can add DVT to the list of pollution-related bugaboos -- and that's no trifle, as the condition is fatal in one-third of the cases left untreated. If you're worried, note that the pollution-DVT link is stronger for men than for women and virtually nonexistent for women on hormone therapy or the pill (and no, I'm not recommending that you get on HRT or the pill). So what can you do to minimize damage from pollution, short of moving to Tasmania? Well, you can stop taking pollution, smog, and haze as a given. This means monitoring pollution levels where you are. Several websites offer up-to-the-minute air-quality info, and you can even have daily updates emailed to you reporting pollution levels in your area from a service called EnviroFlash. On smoggy days, it's risky to exercise outdoors, and in general, you should opt to exercise away from highways, factories, and fires. Stay away from burning trash. If your county has no-burn laws, make sure your neighbors comply. If you don't have laws limiting the burning of trash, get active and contact your legislators. Unfortunately, the same goes for fireplaces-- romantic though they are. An EPA study found that breathing emissions from burning wood fires on polluted days is equivalent to smoking four to 16 cigarettes. You can find suggestions for 50 ways to minimize both your exposure to air pollution and your contribution to it here. You'll notice, though, that most of the ideas involve taking action that won't necessarily protect you in the moment. For instance, advocating the abolition of diesel-operated busses may eventually pay off, but it won't protect you today, and you need buy-in from others before this measure takes hold. That's why it really pays to do those things that you do have control over: Complete your heavy metal detoxing regularly since heavy metal concentrations are high in most air pollution. Use a daily full spectrum antioxidant supplement to mitigate much of the damage. Supplement with a good proteolytic enzyme formula to help control DVT. Cleanse your blood and internal systems. Clean the air in your house using a good filter or ion system. Check the radon levels in your house -- easy and not expensive. And maybe consider that move to Tasmania, after all. Or if you don't want to live down under, you can check this list of the places that have the world's cleanest air. :hc

  • Photo of 1macgeek

    Muscatine Hazardous to Your Health?

    http://inmuscatine.com/?p=1444
    70 days ago in InMuscatine · Authority: 34

    Muscatine Hazardous to Your Health? 0 Comments Published by Buster May 15th, 2008 in News, Technology, Iowa, Enviroment, History If this study is correct, it would sure seem to be so : Air pollution increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) — dangerous blood clots in the veins — even at pollution levels the EPA deems “acceptable.” Harvard researcher Andrea Baccarelli, MD, PhD, and colleagues in Italy studied 870 people diagnosed with DVT from 1995 to 2005. They compared their particulate air pollution exposure in the year before their diagnosis to that of 1,210 matched people without DVT. They found that DVT risk goes up 70% for every 10 microgram-per-cubic-meterrise in particulate air pollution above 12 micrograms per cubic meter of air (the lowest pollution level measured in the study). [From Air Pollution Increases Blood Clot Risk, DVT Risk Jumps as Air Pollution Rises; Risk Seen Even at “Acceptable” Levels - CBS News] Holy Dr. Kildare, Batman! Perhaps living in Muscatine is more hazardous than anyone ever thought possible. We had earlier mentioned one possible outcome of the pollution kerfuffle was an enterprising, hungry attorney suing the business responsible with a class-action suit. This article only serves to sweeten the pot and make that possibility all the more likely. But that doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy hearing from those who claim to have worked (or are working) for GPC and attempting to convince us Louisa Generating is causing all the pollution in Muscatine. ‘Tis to laugh. We always get a good chuckle from those e-mails. Air pollution affects the heart and blood vessels even more than the lungs, notes Robert D. Brook, MD, a University of Michigan expert on the cardiovascular effects of air pollution. An editorial by Brook accompanies the Baccarelli report in the May 12 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. The study, Brook notes, adds DVT to a long list of cardiovascular illnesses linked to air pollution that includes heart attacks, heart failure, stroke, and sudden death. And the heart attack / cardiovascular disease numbers are what? Low? Higher than average? We aim to find out - we have charged the crack InMuscatine investigative unit with finding out. If the data bears out the instances of cardiovascular disease are above what could be considered “normal” in Muscatine, then there may be something to this DVT study. It’s not like a plethora of lawyers will find this blog via Google after we report the results of our investigation, or anything. Oh, wait - with 100k readers per day and Google rankings to the moon and back… yes, they will.

  • Author unknown

    News Summary

    http://karim74.blogspot.com/2008/05/news-summary_14.html
    71 days ago in karim74 · Authority: 6

    » Unsubscribe / Delivery Options » Get Mobile Delivery May 14, 2008 | Morning Edition Top Stories China Earthquake Death Toll Nears 15,000 Pregnant Woman Saved; 178 Students Found Crushed As Amazing Rescues, Grim Discoveries Continue Little Gain In Big Win For Clinton New Cyclone Forming Off Myanmar Coast Divers Find Ancient Bust Of Caesar CBS News Programs CBS News Investigates Undercover Look Inside The Russian Mob It's A Growing Threat To America's Security - And Two Men Infiltrated It: The Russian Mafia CBS Evening News: Hope And Change In Mississippi CBS Evening News: Finding Cancer That Mammograms Can Miss Early Show: Save BIG On Your Food Bill U.S. » More U.S. President Slams Democrats On Terror Bush Lays Out A "Doomsday Scenario" First, A Democrat In The White House, Then Another Terrorist Attack On American Soil "Jane Doe" Rape Tests To Go Nationwide Another GOP Stronghold Goes Democratic Teenager Wins Muskogee Mayoral Race World » More World 7 Convicted Of Jihad Recruiting In Paris Men, Most French Nationals, Recruited Muslim Youths To Travel To And Fight In Iraq Bush Back For Another Mideast Peace Push Bomb Blasts Kill Dozens In India ! Pakistan's Fragile Coalition Takes Big Hit Politics » More Politics Clinton Cruises To West Virginia Win New York Senator Defeats Obama By 40 Points, Declares "This Race Isn't Over Yet" Another GOP Stronghold Goes Democratic Away From Obama's Crowds, Racist Moments Clinton's $20M Debt Could Cause Headaches Health » More Health Study: Over Half Of Americans Medicated First Time A Majority Of Nation's Insured Shown To Be Drugged For Chronic Illnesses Air Pollution Increases Blood Clot Risk Leading Dr.: Vaccines-Autism Worth Study New Drug Reverses Dentists' Anesthesia SciTech » More SciTech "Smart" Car Is Safe, Too, Study Says Car Less Than 9 Feet Long Gets High Marks In Crash Tests Wind Energy Gets A Lift In New Report Identifying And Protecting Teens Online Social Netwo! rks And Profitability Business » More Business Retail Sales Take Expected Dip In April Latest Report Shows .2 Percent Decline; Second Drop In Three Months Median Home Prices Drop In Many Cities Old-Fashioned Gas Pumps Are Topping Out ! Giving Up The Little (And Big) Things Strange » More Strange U. Of Okla. Freshman, 19, Elected Mayor Of Muskogee College Freshman Is Elected Mayor Of Oklahoma City Of Muskogee At Age 19 Man Accused Of Handing Pot To Court Security 'Darth Vader' Spared Jail In Jedi Church Attacks Cape Parishioners Subdue Would-be Church Robber Entertainment » More Entertainment Cowell: Cook Wins Night On "American Idol" Song Choice A Challenge On Last Round Before Grand Finale Winokur Exits "Dancing" With A Smile Buzz Briefs: Britney Spears, Madonna "American Idol" Hits Sour Ratings Note Opinion » More Opinion New Landscape, New Choices For Dems The New Republic: Big Questions Loom About What's Next As The Democratic Race Continues Clinton Campaign Reminiscent of 1980 Race Dusk On Earth Are ! Republicans Gloomy For Good Reason? Top Videos » More Videos Poverty's Vicious Cycle (3:54) Florida Wildfires Level Homes (2:22) Clinton's Gets 'Difficult' Win (2:43) Aid Reaches Quake Epicenter (4:41) Hillary Clinton On W.Va. Win (2:12) U.S. Offers China Aid (2:55) Top Photos » More Photos Photos Of The Day Celebrity Circuit 2008 Tony Nominees Weekend Twisters In Royal Circles Quake Shakes China Latest Blog Posts » More Blogs HorseraceStarting Gate: Big Win, No Gain For Clinton West Virginia Victory Comes Too Late For Clinton Read More Couric & Co.Katie Couric's Notebook: Exercise And Cancer A Report Out Today Says You Can Protect Yourself By Starting Exercise Young Read More From The RoadClinton Wins West Virginia, But What's Next? clinton Read More Most Viewed Stories1. Little Gain In Big Win For Clinton 2. Horrific Murder In Cleveland 3. House Of Yahweh: A Darker Sect Than FLDS 4. Clinton Cruises To West Virginia Win 5. The Preacher's Wife Videos1. Poverty's Vicious Cycle (3:54) 2. Hillary Clinton On W.Va. Win (2:12) 3. Growing Threat Of Russia's Mob (3:34) 4. U.S. Offers China Aid (2:55) 5. Eyewitness To Terror (2:47) <! /td> Photos1. Celebrity Circuit 2. Trapped In The Rubble 3. Photos Of The Day 4. In Royal Circles 5. 2008 Tony Nominees Contact: Email Administrator, CBSNews.com, 524 W. 57th St., Room 514/1, New York, NY, 10019 ©MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. To unsubscribe or change your subscription options, click here. »Help »Advertise »Terms of Service »Privacy Policy

  • Author unknown

    IMMIGRANT OF THE DAY: ANDREA BACCARELLI - SCIENTIST

    http://blogs.ilw.com/gregsiskind/2008/05/immigrant-of--2.htm...

    Italian-born Harvard scientist Andrea Baccarelli made headlines today for heading up a team that has linked air pollution to a higher risk of blood clots. Here's how CBS News describes the discovery: Air pollution increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) -- dangerous blood clots in the veins -- even at pollution levels the EPA deems "acceptable." Harvard researcher Andrea Baccarelli, MD, PhD, and colleagues in Italy studied 870 people diagnosed with DVT from 1995 to 2005. They compared their particulate air pollution exposure in the year before their diagnosis to that of 1,210 matched people without DVT. They found that DVT risk goes up 70% for every 10 microgram-per-cubic-meterrise in particulate air pollution above 12 micrograms per cubic meter of air (the lowest pollution level measured in the study).

  • Author unknown

    Air pollution increases DVT risk

    http://shanghaiexpatlife.blogspot.com/2008/05/air-pollution-...
    73 days ago in Shanghai Expat Life · Authority: 3

    Link Yikes... Air pollution increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) -- dangerous blood clots in the veins -- even at pollution levels the EPA deems "acceptable." Harvard researcher Andrea Baccarelli, MD, PhD, and colleagues in Italy studied 870 people diagnosed with DVT from 1995 to 2005. They compared their particulate air pollution exposure in the year before their diagnosis to that of 1,210 matched people without DVT. They found that DVT risk goes up 70% for every 10 microgram-per-cubic-meterrise in particulate air pollution above 12 micrograms per cubic meter of air (the lowest pollution level measured in the study)..... Air pollution affects the heart and blood vessels even more than the lungs, notes Robert D. Brook, MD, a University of Michigan expert on the cardiovascular effects of air pollution. An editorial by Brook accompanies the Baccarelli report in the May 12 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.