Sir Oliver Heald QC MP attended a meeting with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) in Parliament this week ahead of Clean Air Day on 21 June.
Air pollution is now the largest environmental risk factor linked to deaths in England, with the majority of air-pollution related deaths worldwide (58%) caused by heart disease or stroke.
British Heart Foundation’s research has shed light on how health-harmful pollutants such as Particulate Matter (PM) - small particles found in emissions from diesel engines and wood burning stoves - can cause damage to people’s cardiovascular health and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Commenting, Sir Oliver said:
“It’s important that we have better air quality so my constituents living with a heart and circulatory condition don’t need to worry about dirty air damaging their health when they leave the house. Research has shown that even the smallest reduction can make a big difference in preventing new cases of coronary heart disease.”