University of Michigan Health System cardiovascular medicine specialist Robert D. Brook, M.D., will speak on Capitol Hill during the 40th anniversary celebration of the Clean Air Act hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the American Heart Association.

Research by Brook, an associate professor of internal medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at U-M, adds to the growing evidence that pollution from industry, traffic and power generation causes damaging strokes and heart attacks.

He will speak at noon May 21 during a series of seminars intended to educate policymakers about the link between air pollution and cardiovascular disease and the importance of maintaining clean air. The theme of the event is "Breathe Cleaner, Live Longer." Additional speakers include Arden Pope, Ph.D. of Brigham Young University and the head of research at the EPA.

The Clean Air Act defines the EPA's responsibilities of protecting and improving the nation's air quality and the stratospheric ozone layer. The agency is required to set and enforce regulations to protect the general public from exposure to airborne contaminants that are known to be hazardous to human health.

Because there is such a wide range of vulnerability to the effects of air pollution, the EPA must design air standards to protect the most at-risk populations.

"Limiting exposure to air pollution requires action not only at the individual level, but by carrying out national policies at the population level as well," Brook says.