Invisible Pollutants, Visible Heart Risk: Low-Level Air Pollution Linked to Worse Coronary Disease
A study presented at the Radiological Society of North America’s 2025 meeting finds that long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is linked to more severe coronary artery disease, even at low exposure levels. Researchers report women showing higher calcium scores and arterial narrowing and men showing higher calcium scores and plaque burden with greater PM2.5 exposure, underscoring the cardiovascular risks of urban air pollution and the rationale for policies to curb vehicle emissions.