Study on traffic pollution and heart attack risk

BBC News: "Car fumes 'raise heart attack risk for six-hour window'" Prof Jeremy Pearson, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, which co-funded the study, said: "This large-scale study shows conclusively that your risk of having a heart attack goes up temporarily, for around six hours, after breathing in higher levels of vehicle exhaust."

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New York Daily News: Perspective on air pollution

"Wake up to the most dangerous air pollution: Fine particulate matter kills thousands in N.Y.C., L.A." Co-authored by STEP's Wig Zamore "Fine particulate matter is especially insidious because it is virtually invisible, odorless and tasteless. All of us are exposed, but few are aware of it. Despite the substantial impact on our health, it is not well-known to the public compared…

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STEP and partners receive grant to study air pollution near I-93

Somerville Journal: "Somerville receives federal grant to study air pollution near I-93 homes" "STEP is very enthusiastic to be a partner for this study," said STEP President Ellin Reisner. "For the past year, we have worked as a community partner with Tufts University studying UFP exposure of residents in East Somerville living near I-93. This study provides our community with a…

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Somerville air quality testing begins soon

Somerville News: "Comprehensive air quality testing for one year begins soon" The Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership, a group of concerned Somervillians, has partnered with Tufts University to devise and implement a study of air quality in neighborhoods just off major highways in Somerville. It is thought that the added pollution from passing cars negatively affects the residents' cardiovascular health.

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STEP partners with Tufts on study of highway health risks

Do "ultrafine particles" from combustion engines harm our health, especially for people living close to highways? Early research is already suggesting the answer is yes. STEP is proud to be participating in a local study of this issue, run by the Tufts Community Research Center. The CAFEH (Community Assessment of Freeway Exposure and Health) study, among the first of its kind…

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STEP’s Wig Zamore presents to EPA on transportation-related pollution

On April 2, Wig Zamore made a presentation to the EPA Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee on transportation-related air pollution. The slides provide specific data on local communities and existing studies of the relationship between highway pollutants and health problems. Download the study (PDF or PowerPoint).

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Studies on Somerville pollution near highways

The following presentations were given at the recent Conference of the International Society of Environmental Epidemiology and the International Society of Exposure Analysis (ISEE ISEA).
“Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Vehicle Exhaust Emission Gradients Near Highways in Somerville, Massachusetts”
“Traffic-Related Air Pollution in a Densely Populated Urban Area”
“Community Oriented Reuse and Refinement of Available Transportation, Air Quality and Public Health Data to Shape Regional Equity Discussions and Healthier Development Outcomes in Somerville, Massachusetts” (not yet available for download)

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