Your risk on the road may not come from a crash.

"The air coming into your car is the worst air in the whole city," said Scott Fruin, Assistant Professor of Environmental Health at USC Keck School of Medicine.

An electric car tracked just how much pollution drivers are exposed to. Los Angeles commuters spend an average of 90 minutes sucking in diesel fuel fumes and ultra fine particles or UFP every day. These particles, smaller than 1/1,000 the size of a human  hair, can enter the bloodstream  and disperse throughout the body. They have been linked to increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.

"They get deepest into your lungs. They get into your bloodstream, and those are particularly high on freeways and busy roads," said Fruin.

The American Heart Association found high concentrations of diesel exhaust increases clot formation by almost 25 percent, which can lead to deadly cardiovascular problems.

The study from the university of southern California found the biggest concerns are fumes from diesel trucks and following cars that hit the gas pedal too hard - kicking up those deadly particles into the air and into your car.

"If you don't smoke, it's the next worse environment," said Fruin.

So how can you make your commute safer? Drive with the windows up and set the air on re-circulate. But the best way to survive your commute is to cut your commute.

Studies have shown as little as two hours on the road a day can impact your heart health. Sounds like a lot, but that's just an hour commute each way.

Air pollution poses a higher heart risk for women than men because women's coronary arteries are smaller.