And women closest to traffic were 63 percent more likely to develop the disease, study says.
WEDNESDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- People exposed to high levels of traffic pollution have an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis, a new study suggests.
Researchers analyzed the records of 90,000 women in the Nurses Health Study and used special software to measure the distance between each woman's home and the nearest major roadways. The results showed that women who lived within 50 meters (164 feet) of interstates or primary, multi-lane roads were 31 percent more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than those who lived more than 200 meters (656 feet) from a major roadway. Women who lived within 50 meters of the largest roadways had a 63 percent increased risk.
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