Chronic residential exposure to particulate matter air pollution and systemic inflammatory markers.
BACKGROUND
Long-term exposure to urban air pollution may accelerate atherogenesis, but mechanisms are still unclear. The induction of a low-grade systemic inflammatory state is a plausible mechanistic pathway.


OBJECTIVE
We analyzed the association of residential long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) and high traffic with systemic inflammatory markers.


METHODS
We used baseline data from the German Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study, a population-based, prospective cohort study of 4,814 participants that started in 2000. Fine PM [aerodynamic diameter <or= 2.5 microm (PM(2.5))] exposure based on a small-scale dispersion and chemistry transport model was assigned to each home address. We calculated distances between residences and major roads. Long-term exposure to air pollution (annual PM(2.5) and distance to high traffic) and concentration of inflammatory markers [high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and fibrinogen] on the day of the baseline visit were analyzed with sex-stratified multiple linear regression, controlling for individual-level risk factors.


RESULTS
In the adjusted analysis, a cross-sectional exposure difference of 3.91 microg/m(3) in PM(2.5) (interdecile range) was associated with increases in hs-CRP of 23.9% [95% confidence interval (CI), 4.1 to 47.4%] and fibrinogen of 3.9% (95% CI, 0.3 to 7.7%) in men, whereas we found no association in women. Chronic traffic exposure was not associated with inflammatory markers. Short-term exposures to air pollutants and temperature did not influence the results markedly.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study indicates that long-term residential exposure to high levels of PM(2.5) is associated with systemic inflammatory markers in men. This might provide a link between air pollution and coronary atherosclerosis.
Hoffmann
Barbara
B
Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry, and Epidemiology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. barbara.hoffmann@uk-essen.de
Moebus
Susanne
S
Dragano
Nico
N
Stang
Andreas
A
Möhlenkamp
Stefan
S
Schmermund
Axel
A
Memmesheimer
Michael
M
Bröcker-Preuss
Martina
M
Mann
Klaus
K
Erbel
Raimund
R
Jöckel
Karl-Heinz
KH
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000633:toxicity*; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity
D015415:Biomarkers; D052638:Particulate Matter; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein