Associations between Recent Exposure to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter and Blood Pressure in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Abstract

BackgroundBlood pressure (BP) may be implicated in associations observed between ambient particulate matter and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study examined cross-sectional associations between short-term ambient fine particles (particulate matter ≤ 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter; PM2.5) and BP: systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), mean arterial (MAP), and pulse pressure (PP).MethodsThe study sample included 5,112 persons 45–84 years of age, free of cardiovascular disease at the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis baseline examination (2000–2002). Data from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency monitors were used to estimate ambient PM2.5 exposures for the preceding 1, 2, 7, 30, and 60 days. Roadway data were used to estimate local exposures to traffic-related particles.ResultsResults from linear regression found PP and SBP positively associated with PM2.5. For example, a 10-μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 30-day mean was associated with 1.12 mmHg higher pulse pressure [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.28–1.97] and 0.99 mmHg higher systolic BP (95% CI, –0.15 to 2.13), adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, education, body mass index, diabetes, cigarette smoking and environmental tobacco smoke, alcohol use, physical activity, medications, atmospheric pressure, and temperature. Results were much weaker and not statistically significant for MAP and DBP. Although traffic-related variables were not themselves associated with BP, the association between PM2.5 and BP was stronger in the presence of higher traffic exposure.ConclusionsHigher SBP and PP were associated with ambient levels of PM2.5 and the association was stronger in the presence of roadway traffic, suggesting that impairment of blood pressure regulation may play a role in response to air pollution.

Spatial Association Between Ambient Fine Particulate Matter and Incident Hypertension

“…24 In contrast, another cohort study of 853 male veterans in Boston, MA, showed an increase of 2.64 mm Hg of systolic blood pressure (95% CI, 1.47-3.80) and 2.41 mm Hg of diastolic blood pressure (95% CI, 1.77-3.05) per increase of 0.32 µg/ m 3 of black carbon (a marker for traffic-related pollution). 21 Similarly, 4 cross-sectional studies reported positive associations between air pollution levels and blood pressure 14,20,25,43 : three reported increases in systolic blood pressure from 3 to 15 mm Hg per 10-µg/m 3 increase of PM 2.5 , 14,20,43 and 1 reported associations between systolic and diastolic blood pressure and PM 10 , ozone, and sulfur dioxide. 25 Percentage of population aged ≥15 y, without employment 7…”

“…10 Recent studies have shown that individuals exposed to ambient fine particulate matter (particles with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm) (PM 2.5 ) exhibited elevations in arterial blood pressure within several hours to days after exposure. [11][12][13][14][15] Controlled exposure studies in humans 16,17 and animals 18,19 have shown similar associations. Increases in blood pressure have also been associated with long-term exposure to PM 2.…”

Particulate Matter Air Pollution and the Risk of Incident CKD and Progression to ESRD

“…31 These three hypotheses provide contextual background to evaluate the experimental and clinical findings describing the extrapulmonary effect of particulate matter air pollution, where it has been reported that exposure to elevated levels of PM 2.5 is associated with increased inflammatory mediators (including TNF-a, IL-6, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1), oxidative stress, [32][33][34] increased atherosclerotic plaque area, and exaggerated vasoconstrictor responses to phenylephrine and serotonin. 35 Evidence suggests that increased PM 2.5 concentrations are associated with significant decrease in flow-mediated dilatation, 36,37 increases in systolic BP and pulse pressure, [38][39][40] and disturbances in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. 41 Emerging evidence also suggests that exposure to ambient air pollutants can lead to metabolic disturbances, including glucose intolerance, decreased insulin sensitivity, higher blood lipid concentrations, weight gain, and increased risk of diabetes mellitus.…”

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Kidney Function Decline among Persons without Chronic Kidney Disease

“…20 Other biologic and environmental risk factors have been proposed to explain faster rates of progression from CKD to ESRD in blacks, including differences in social and demographic factors as well as biologic factors. Prior reports suggest that sociodemographic differences may have important influences on chronic disease through mediators such as chronic stress, psychosocial factors (i.e., pessimism and low self-esteem), 21 acculturation, 22 environmental pollution, 23 or differences in access to care. 24,25 Whether or not these factors and their interaction with genetic predisposition may also explain race/ethnic differences in early kidney function decline will be an important area for future study.…”