Scientists at Seoul National University(SNU) say they found meaningful correlations between heart disease and air pollution.
 
The research team led by the dean of the SNU's Graduate School of Public Health Kim Ho on Monday announced the result of its studies.

The researchers said they found that chances of developing high blood pressure increased by four-point-four percent each time the average annual ultrafine dust concentration increased by ten micrograms per cubic meter.

For every ten parts per billion(ppb) increase in nitrogen dioxide, the probability of having high blood pressure rose by eight percent. For every ten ppb increase in carbon monoxide, the chances of having high blood pressure rose by 13 percent.

The researchers came to the conclusion after analyzing data from a health study of some 700-thousand people by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) from 2008 to 2010.

The study is listed in the latest edition of "Science of the Total Environment."