title: Cross-sectional association between exposure to particulate matter and inflammatory markers in the Japanese general population: NIPPON DATA2010.
abstract: A suggestive mechanism behind the association between particulate matter and cardiovascular disease is inflammatory response. Earlier population-based studies investigating the association between particulate matter and inflammatory biological markers, in particular C-reactive protein (CRP), showed inconsistent results. In addition, evidence from the Asian population, in which CRP levels are typically lower than those observed in Western populations, was sparse. We examined the cross-sectional association between short- and long-term exposure to particulate matter and inflammatory markers, including high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) and white blood cell (WBC) count, in a representative population of Japanese community dwellers (NIPPON DATA2010). We analysed data from 2360 participants (1002 men and 1358 women), aged 20 years or older, who resided in 300 randomly selected districts (222 public health centre areas) throughout Japan. We used background concentrations of suspended particulate matter (SPM, defined as particles with a 100% cut-off level at 10 μm aerodynamic diameter) and co-pollutants within the public health centre area. A logistic regression model was applied to estimate odds ratios (ORs) of elevated hs-CRP (> 0.3 mg/dl) or WBC (> 9000/μl). Since smoking is an important confounding factor, we firstly included this in the models, and additionally conducted the analyses after excluding current smokers. The one-month average concentration of SPM was positively associated with hs-CRP (OR per 10 μg/m(3) increase in SPM = 1.42, 95% confidence interval = 1.00-2.04), and high exposure to SPM on the day of blood draw was associated with increased WBC count, after excluding current smokers (OR = 1.13, 1.01-1.28). Similar association patterns were observed for ozone. In conclusion, exposure to particulate matter was associated with inflammatory markers in the general Japanese population. Systemic inflammation may play a role in the link between particulate matter and cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Epidemiology Section, Centre for Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. Electronic address: tmichikawa@nies.go.jp.
authors.forename: Takehiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Michikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. Electronic address: okamura@z6.keio.jp.
authors.forename: Tomonori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okamura
authors.affiliation: Environmental Epidemiology Section, Centre for Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan. Electronic address: nitta@nies.go.jp.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nitta
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Medicine, Toho University, 5-21-16 Omorinishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo 143-0015, Japan. Electronic address: yuuji.nishiwaki@med.toho-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishiwaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. Electronic address: ttakebayashi@a3.keio.jp.
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takebayashi
authors.affiliation: Environmental Epidemiology Section, Centre for Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan; Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8530, Japan. Electronic address: ueda.kayo.8x@kyoto-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kayo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga 520-2192, Japan; Centre for Epidemiologic Research in Asia, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga 520-2192, Japan. Electronic address: ayakd@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kadota
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga 520-2192, Japan. Electronic address: afujiy@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fujiyoshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Teikyo University School of Medicine, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan. Electronic address: tohkubo@med.teikyo-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Takayoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohkubo
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga 520-2192, Japan; Centre for Epidemiologic Research in Asia, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga 520-2192, Japan. Electronic address: hueshima@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hirotsugu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ueshima
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Strategy for Prevention, 1-3-9 Shinkawa, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0033, Japan. Electronic address: aokayama@jrisp.com.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Okayama
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga 520-2192, Japan; Centre for Epidemiologic Research in Asia, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga 520-2192, Japan. Electronic address: miura@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Katsuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D052638:Particulate Matter; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: C-reactive protein; Cross-sectional; Inflammation; Particulate matter; White blood cell