Residential proximity to major roadways, fine particulate matter, and adiposity: The framingham heart study.
Higher traffic-related air pollution has been associated with higher body mass index (BMI) among children. However, few studies have assessed the associations among adults.



Participants (N = 2,372) from the Framingham Offspring and Third Generation cohorts who underwent multidetector-computed tomography scans (2002-2005) were included. Residential-based proximity to the nearest major roadway and 1-year average levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution were estimated. BMI was measured at Offspring examination 7 (1998-2001) and Third Generation examination 1 (2002-2005); subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) were measured using multidetector-computed tomography. Linear regression models were used for continuous BMI, SAT, and VAT and logistic models for the binary indicator of obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2), adjusting for demographic variables, individual- and area-level measures of socioeconomic position, and clinical and lifestyle factors.



Participants who lived 60 m from a major roadway had 0.37 kg/m2higher BMI (95% CI: 0.10 to 0.65 kg/m2), 78.4 cm3higher SAT (95% CI: 4.5 to 152.3 cm3), and 41.8 cm3higher VAT (95% CI: -4.7 to 88.2 cm3) than those who lived 440 m away.



Living closer to a major roadway was associated with higher overall and abdominal adiposity.
Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Unit, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Wenyuan
0000-0001-6196-9964
W
Li
Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Unit, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Kirsten S
KS
Dorans
Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Unit, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Elissa H
EH
Wilker
Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Unit, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Mary B
MB
Rice
Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Joel
J
Schwartz
Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Brent A
BA
Coull
Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Petros
P
Koutrakis
Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Diane R
DR
Gold
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, Massachusetts, USA.|Division of Intramural Research, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Caroline S
CS
Fox
Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Unit, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Murray A
MA
Mittleman
D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects*; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat
D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter