Exposure to ambient concentrations of particulate air pollution does not influence vascular function or inflammatory pathways in young healthy individuals.
BACKGROUND
Particulate air pollution is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events although the involved mechanisms are poorly understood. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of controlled exposure to ambient air fine and ultrafine particles on microvascular function and biomarkers related to inflammation, haemostasis and lipid and protein oxidation.


METHODS
Twenty-nine subjects participated in a randomized, two-factor crossover study with or without biking exercise for 180 minutes and with 24 hour exposure to particle rich (number concentrations, NC: 11600 +/- 5600 per cm3, mass concentrations: 13.8 +/- 7.4 mug/m3 and 10.5 +/- 4.8 mug/m3 for PM10-2.5 and PM2.5, respectively) or particle filtered (NC: 555 +/- 1053 per cm3) air collected above a busy street. Microvascular function was assessed non-invasively by measuring digital peripheral artery tone following arm ischemia. Biomarkers included haemoglobin, red blood cells, platelet count, coagulation factors, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor alpha, lag time to copper-induced oxidation of plasma lipids and protein oxidation measured as 2-aminoadipic semialdehyde in plasma.


RESULTS
No statistically significant differences were observed on microvascular function or the biomarkers after exposure to particle rich or particle filtered air.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that exposure to air pollution particles at outdoor concentrations is not associated with detectable systemic inflammation, lipid or protein oxidation, altered haemostasis or microvascular function in young healthy participants.
Institute of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Health Science Faculty, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. stlo@pubhealth.ku.dk.
Elvira V
EV
Bräuner
Peter
P
Møller
Lars
L
Barregard
Lars O
LO
Dragsted
Marianne
M
Glasius
Peter
P
Wåhlin
Peter
P
Vinzents
Ole
O
Raaschou-Nielsen
Steffen
S
Loft