title: Associations between recent exposure to ambient fine particulate matter and blood pressure in the Multi-ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Blood 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 <or= 2.5 microm in aerodynamic diameter; PM(2.5)) and BP: systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), mean arterial (MAP), and pulse pressure (PP).
  
  
  METHODS
  The 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 PM(2.5) exposures for the preceding 1, 2, 7, 30, and 60 days. Roadway data were used to estimate local exposures to traffic-related particles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results from linear regression found PP and SBP positively associated with PM(2.5). For example, a 10-microg/m(3) increase in PM(2.5) 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 PM(2.5) and BP was stronger in the presence of higher traffic exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher SBP and PP were associated with ambient levels of PM(2.5) 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 109 Observatory St., SPH Tower Room 3655, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA. aauchinc@umich.edu
authors.forename: Amy H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Auchincloss
authors.forename: Ana V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Diez Roux
authors.forename: J Timothy
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Dvonch
authors.forename: Patrick L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: R Graham
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: Martha L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Daviglus
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Goff
authors.forename: Joel D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: Marie S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: O'Neill
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D044469:Racial Groups
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter