Air pollution increases exposure to a radioactive gas that triggers heart attacks and strokes, according to new research from Harvard. It contains colorless and odorless radon which is also the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
The phenomenon is boosting the toxicity of tiny particles called PM2.5s emitted by traffic and industry.
Lead author Shuxin Dong, a Ph.D. student at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, said: “These findings suggest particle radioactivity increases the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and enhances the damage from particulate matter. He added that ”this must be further investigated and may lead to targeted, cost-effective air quality regulations.”
