Clear Air Campaign

The more polluted the air where you live, the greater your risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), say scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health. DVT happens when blood clots develop in the thigh or legs, typically after long stretches of sitting in one place – for example, when flying.

Researchers found that people who lived in areas with cleaner air were 70% less likely to get DVT than those who had spent a lot of time breathing in air-borne pollutants. They think this could contribute to heart disease and stroke in people living in built-up towns and cities and so are calling for tougher measures to help reduce air pollution.