Teenagers may experience irregular heart rhythms — or arrhythmias — within two hours after breathing polluted air, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers. The study is the first of its kind to analyze air pollution's cardiovascular impact on adolescents.
Its all over the internet. Looks like most are repeating the same thing.
Could it be effecting some of the older AFers ?
[www.google.com]

I don't see why not. Air pollution causes free radical damage in the alveoli, which has a deleterious effect on SPO2. Low SPO2, such as when in obstructive or central sleep apnea, can bring on AF. Happened to me.

I grew up in the San Fernando Valley in LA in the 50's and 60's when air pollution was really bad. In high school before some swimming meets (early 60's), I would go into my closet at home to hyperventilate to stop/clear the lung pain that was happening with deep breaths. 5 minutes of deep breathing and the pain was gone. At the time - Was there major issues with young people having arrythmias from pollution? I doubt it.

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Ken
Was there major issues with young people having arrhythmias from pollution? I doubt it.

Reading the paper, these subjects did not either. The were studying PAC & PVC rates in 30 minute time bins (and comparing to particulate concentrations in the same or prior time bins). From Table 2, the mean PAC rate was 0.47/30 min and PVC rate 0.36/30 minutes. So hardly major issues.

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Ken
I grew up in the San Fernando Valley in LA in the 50's and 60's when air pollution was really bad. In high school before some swimming meets (early 60's), I would go into my closet at home to hyperventilate to stop/clear the lung pain that was happening with deep breaths. 5 minutes of deep breathing and the pain was gone. At the time - Was there major issues with young people having arrythmias from pollution? I doubt it.

We were neighbors. My son’s school was just feet from the 405 in the valley. In the 80s, the air wasn’t any cleaner. 9 out of 11 kids in his class used a nebulizer. Where I live now we have sandstorms. I actually am coughing like crazy even with a n95.