Vehicle emissions linked to AMD

Long-term exposure to pollutants from vehicles has been linked to a greater risk of AMD, according to a study published in the journal Investigative Medicine.

Being exposed to high levels of air pollutants was associated with an almost two-fold increase in risk among those over 50. Those exposed to the highest levels of nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide were 91% and 84% more likely to develop AMD, respectively, then those exposed to the lowest levels.

The Taiwanese researchers analysed national health insurance and air quality data from 1998 to 2010 to explore the relationship between pollutant exposure and AMD. The study involved nearly 40,000 people aged 50 and over who lived in both urban and suburban areas.