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<\/a><\/p>\nA new paper in Science of The Total Environment<\/em> from PhD student Nicholas Pellegrino and Dr. Chia-Ling Kuo explores how air pollution may contribute to heart disease. They worked with colleagues Breno S. Diniz, Ying Zhou, Richard H. Fortinsky, George A. Kuchel, and Doug Brugge.<\/p>\n The team:<\/strong> Pellegrino led the analysis and drafting. Kuo, who contributed to the study design, data curation, and writing, is a co-author and the corresponding author.<\/p>\n What they did:<\/strong> The team analyzed data from more than 38,000 UK Biobank participants followed for an average of 13 years. They looked at fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5), a marker of cellular aging based on 94 blood proteins, and new cases of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.<\/p>\n What they found:<\/strong> Higher PM2.5 exposure was linked to higher levels of the aging marker and to a greater risk of cardiovascular disease. Higher levels of the marker were themselves linked to greater disease risk. Statistically, the marker accounted for about 5.5% of the pollution\u2013disease link, which suggests cellular aging is one piece of how air pollution harms the heart.<\/p>\n Why it matters:<\/strong> Air pollution is one of the world’s leading environmental health threats, and this is among the first studies to test cellular senescence as a biological pathway between pollution and heart disease. Understanding that pathway could help guide future prevention and public health efforts.<\/p>\n