CardioExchange Archive

Reductions in air pollution during the Beijing Olympics were associated with decreases in certain biomarkers of inflammation and thrombosis in healthy young adults, according to a JAMA study.

Researchers measured levels of air pollutants in 2-week periods before, during, and after the Olympics, and also measured blood levels of cardiovascular disease biomarkers in 125 healthy medical residents during the same three periods.

Overall, air pollutants decreased during the Olympics, reflecting the government’s measures to limit pollution during the games. At the same time, participants had significant improvements in markers of platelet adhesion and activation — namely, soluble P selectin and von Willebrand factor. As pollutant levels returned to pre-Olympic levels after the games, so did these biomarkers (soluble P selectin actually was worse after the Olympics than before).

Editorialists say the study “provides evidence supporting the hypothesis that exposure to higher levels of air pollution leads to a prothrombotic response.”