Puerto Rican study shows health risk

BOSTON (WWLP) – Living by a busy road could be an environmental health risk.

A Boston Puerto Rican health study finds that if you live by a busy urban road, you’re more at risk of developing a cardiovascular disease.

The study examined over one thousand Puerto Ricans living in the Greater Boston area. Those that lived by a road that was driven over by more than 20,000 cars a day had increased blood pressure and inflammation.

While the study focused on Puerto Ricans, a researcher said the results could be generalized to older people who live in similar situations.

Christine Rioux, a Tufts University Research Assistant Professor, told 22News, “Sometimes areas that are most affordable have higher environmental exposures, so I think in terms of Puerto Rican elders, they’re not unique in that respect, that’s true of many elders of any background.”

The study suggests that the unique genetic profile of Puerto Ricans may increase their predisposition to chronic disease.

The study says Puerto Ricans are the largest Hispanic group in Massachusetts, but remain understudied as an ethnic group.

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