Mixing Vessel: Air pollution helps cholesterol clog arteries

When paired with consuming a diet high in fat, breathing polluted air on a regular basis accelerates the accumulation of dangerous plaques in arteries, researchers studying mice have found. The research sheds light on how chronic exposure to air pollution contributes to heart attacks and strokes.

CLOGGED CONDUITS. Cross sections of arteries show more plaque inside a vessel from a mouse exposed to air pollution (left) than from one that breathed filtered air (right).