Could Beijing's Polluted Air Sicken Olympic Spectators?

The Chinese government has been scrambling to cut down on air pollution before the world's best athletes compete in the Olympics next month; they've closed down factories near Beijing and allowed people to drive their cars only every other day. But according to researchers from Northwestern University, athletes aren't the only ones who need to be wary of dirty air. Even spectators, they say, could suffer serious health problems from traveling to China for the games. According to Dr. Gokhan Mutlu, people with cardiovascular disease, or risk factors like obesity, diabetes, or high cholesterol, could be at risk for a heart attack or stroke from spending too much time in the Beijing air. The microscopic particles in polluted air, like those from a coal plant or diesel truck, can make blood thicker and sticky, he says. Even if you have a healthy visit to China, you're not off the hook—Mutlu ...