Long-Term Exposure to Traffic-Related Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Mortality

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Findings from previous cohort studies suggest a positive association between traffic-related air pollution and cardiovascular mortality. However, few studies have assessed intraurban variation in traffic-related pollution or evaluated cardiovascular effects at lower levels of pollution that are typically seen in Canadian cities. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study of traffic-related air pollution and cardiovascular mortality among adults who lived in three cities in Ontario, Canada. Study members of the cohort were a random sample from the federal family income tax database, comprising 205,440 adults age 35-85 years, who lived in Toronto, Hamilton, or Windsor between 1982 and 19..