Effects of particulate matter on inflammatory markers in the general adult population

Abstract

BackgroundParticulate air pollution is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Although the precise mechanisms underlying this association are still unclear, the induction of systemic inflammation following particle inhalation represents a plausible mechanistic pathway.MethodsWe used baseline data from the CoLaus Study including 6183 adult participants residing in Lausanne, Switzerland. We analyzed the association of short-term exposure to PM10 (on the day of examination visit) with continuous circulating serum levels of high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor-necrosis-factor alpha (TNF-α) by robust linear regressions, controlling for potential confounding factors and assessing effect modification.ResultsIn adjusted analyses, for every 10 μg/m3 elevation in PM10, IL-1ß increased by 0.034 (95 % confidence interval, 0.007-0.060) pg/mL, IL-6 by 0.036 (0.015-0.057) pg/mL, and TNF-α by 0.024 (0.013-0.035) pg/mL, whereas no significant association was found with hs-CRP levels.ConclusionsShort-term exposure to PM10 was positively associated with higher levels of circulating IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α in the adult general population. This positive association suggests a link between air pollution and cardiovascular risk, although further studies are needed to clarify the mechanistic pathway linking PM10 to cardiovascular risk.

Ozone induces glucose intolerance and systemic metabolic effects in young and aged brown Norway rats

“…Although increased circulating cytokines have been postulated to cause a systemic response after PM exposure (Tsai et al, 2012), our data do not support the contribution of cytokines such as IL-6 in O 3 -induced metabolic impairment. Lipocalin levels were increased after acute O 3 exposure but this increase was only noted after 2 days, again suggesting that this is not likely the cause of acute hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance.…”

Secondhand hookah smoke: an occupational hazard for hookah bar employees

“…The levels of worker exposure to PM and nicotine in the present study were comparable to exposure levels measured in hospitality venues prior to cigarette smoking bans (8–1375 µg/m 3 PM2.5; 5.8–14.4 µg/m 3 nicotine) 34 35. Numerous epidemiology studies have previously demonstrated associations between airborne PM and BC levels and adverse cardiopulmonary effects although the ambient concentrations were much lower than what was measured in the hookah bars in this study 36 37. One study, in particular, found adverse blood pressure changes associated with daily ambient exposures to BC concentrations that were approximately 1/2–1/3 of the indoor levels measured in this study 38…”

PM2.5 Meets Blood: In vivo Damages and Immune Defense

“…3 (p-value = 0.038). In the past, a broad range of studies revealed the central role of TNF-α in inflammatory responses (Tsai et al, 2012), but some studies suggest the other way. For example, many studies chose IL-6 and TNF-α as combined biomarkers for studying inflammatory responses.…”