You can read the research study at the BMJ website: http://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.f7412
Throughout the world particulate air pollution is estimated to cause 3.1 million deaths a year and 22% of disability adjusted life years (DALY) due to ischaemic heart disease. Several cohort studies have reported that long term exposure to air pollution is associated with mortality, in particular cardiovascular mortality.
The ESCAPE Study (European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects) was conducted between 2008 and 2012 to quantify the associations between exposures and health outcomes. The study design included prospective cohort studies and meta-analysis of the results. The cohorts were in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and Italy.
100,000 people were enrolled and followed for 11 years. Participants were free from previous coronary events at baseline.
A 5 μg/m3 increase in estimated annual mean PM2.5 was associated with a 13% increased risk of coronary events, and a 10 μg/m3 increase in estimated annual mean PM10 was associated with a 12% increased risk of coronary events.
Long term exposure to particulate matter is associated with incidence of coronary events.