The study, initiated by the GSF – National Research Center for Environment and Health," is reported in the October 21, 2004, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

The research team, led by Dr. Annette Peters of the GSF Institute of Epidemiology, observed 691 myocardial infarction survivors and found a 2.9-fold increased risk for heart attack one hour after using any kind of means of transportation.

The researchers conducted detailed interviews to determine what each patient had been doing four days prior to experiencing a heart attack.

Participants in the study used cars, buses, bicycles and motor bikes to get around: 72% of all trips were made by car, 16% with bicycles, 10% with public transportation and 2% with motor bikes.

Air Pollution Chief Suspect

People who spend time in traffic expose themselves to elevated concentrations of pollutants and, in particular, to elevated fine and ultrafine particle concentrations, the article observes.

Results from experimental studies in animals have indicated that particulates in the air can alter heart function.

The new results substantiate the damaging impact of particles on persons with cardiovascular disease. If these results are confirmed in follow-up studies, then effects of particles are more serious than previously suspected, the researchers conclude.