Research Links Air Pollution to Heart Disease Risk

Emerging research in Kenya and beyond is strengthening the connection between air pollution and cardiovascular disease, raising new public health alarms. A 2018 study focused on women in western Kenya found that exposure to high levels of fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) and carbon monoxide (CO) — largely emitted from traditional biomass cooking stoves — was associated with reduced heart function and signs of cardiac stress. Moreover, national data suggest that air pollution contributes to a growing burden of heart disease and strokes, pushing non‑communicable disease rates higher.
Scientific reviews and meta-analyses reinforce these local findings, highlighting that household air pollution (from sources like firewood and charcoal) is independently associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).Ultrafine particles (UFPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), for example, have been shown to cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and other biological changes that promote atherosclerosis — the buildup of plaque in arterial walls. A systematic review led by researchers from Kintampo Health Research Centre also identified short- and long-term exposure to pollutants like PM₂.₅, NO₂, and SO₂ as major contributors to cardiovascular illness and premature death.
The implications are drawing attention from Kenyan policymakers and health advocates. In Nairobi, air-quality monitoring stations are being installed in response to growing concern that pollution fuels non-communicable diseases like hypertension, heart attacks, and strokes. Experts argue that reducing exposure — for example by promoting cleaner cooking fuels or regulating emissions — could help curb the rise in cardiovascular disease. As the science strengthens, there is increasing pressure for national health strategies to integrate environmental risk management, addressing air quality not just as an environmental issue, but as a core health priority.