Air purifiers may cut heart attack risk at home

A study finds home HEPA filtration could lower blood pressure and reduce heart attack risk for people living near heavy traffic.

Air purifiers may cut heart attack risk at home

A University of Connecticut study followed 154 adults who live near highways in the United States. In a crossover setup, participants used a high-efficiency particulate air purifier for a month and then swapped to a sham unit, while researchers tracked blood pressure and health questionnaires. The results showed blood pressure tended to fall among those using the real purifier and rose for those using the sham purifier. The researchers say filters that trap fine particles could reduce exposure to traffic-related pollutants that enter homes through gaps and open windows. In the United Kingdom, the British Heart Foundation notes that 96 percent of people in England are exposed to air pollution levels above World Health Organization limits, underscoring the scale of the problem. Still, the study notes limits such as the small sample size and short duration, and it calls for longer trials to confirm effects on heart events.

The finding points to a simple, practical step in a tough fight against pollution’s health toll. Yet indoor air is just one layer of exposure, and a purifier is not a substitute for cleaner air outside. If more studies confirm benefits, questions will follow about cost, maintenance, and who gets access. The data from the UK side also remind us that pollution does not affect everyone equally, raising issues of equity as more households consider personal filtration. In the end, the value of such devices will hinge on longer-term evidence and a broader policy push to reduce traffic pollution.

Highlights

The study invites practical steps that must be weighed against broader policy action.