title: Traffic-related air pollution and noise and children's blood pressure: results from the PIAMA birth cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Elevation of a child's blood pressure may cause possible health risks in later life. There is evidence for adverse effects of exposure to air pollution and noise on blood pressure in adults. Little is known about these associations in children. We investigated the associations of air pollution and noise exposure with blood pressure in 12-year-olds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood pressure was measured at age 12 years in 1432 participants of the PIAMA birth cohort study. Annual average exposure to traffic-related air pollution [NO2, mass concentrations of particulate matter with diameters of less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and less than 10 µm (PM10), and PM2.5 absorbance] at the participants' home and school addresses at the time of blood pressure measurements was estimated by land-use regression models. Air pollution exposure on the days preceding blood pressure measurements was estimated from routine air monitoring data. Long-term noise exposure was assessed by linking addresses to modelled equivalent road traffic noise levels. Associations of exposures with blood pressure were analysed by linear regression. Effects are presented for an interquartile range increase in exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Long-term exposure to NO2 and PM2.5 absorbance were associated with increased diastolic blood pressure, in children who lived at the same address since birth [adjusted mean difference (95% confidence interval) [mmHg] 0.83 (0.06 to 1.61) and 0.75 (-0.08 to 1.58), respectively], but not with systolic blood pressure. We found no association of blood pressure with short-term air pollution or noise exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution may increase diastolic blood pressure in children.
authors.affiliation: Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Natalya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bilenko
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lenie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: van Rossem
authors.affiliation: Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brunekreef
authors.affiliation: Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beelen
authors.affiliation: Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marloes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eeftens
authors.affiliation: Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hoek
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Houthuijs
authors.affiliation: Erasmus University Medical Center/Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Johan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: de Jongste
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Kempen
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Groningen/Beatrix Children's Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Gerard H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Koppelman
authors.affiliation: Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Kees
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meliefste
authors.affiliation: Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oldenwening
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Henriette A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Alet H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Wijga
authors.affiliation: Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands u.gehring@uu.nl.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gehring
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001336:Automobiles; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009624:Noise, Transportation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D009569:Nitric Oxide
keywords: Air pollution; birth cohort; blood pressure; children; traffic noise