Acute changes in pulse pressure in relation to constituents of particulate air pollution in elderly persons

Journal Article · Wed Aug 15 04:00:00 EDT 2012 · Environmental Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENVRES.2012.05.003· OSTI ID:22157089

Jacobs, Lotte ^[1]; Buczynska, Anna ^[2]; Walgraeve, Christophe ^[3]; Delcloo, Andy ^[4]; Potgieter-Vermaak, Sanja ^[2]; Van Grieken, Rene ^[2]; Demeestere, Kristof; Dewulf, Jo; Van Langenhove, Herman ^[3]; De Backer, Hugo ^[4]; Nemery, Benoit ^[1]; Nawrot, Tim S. ^[1]

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1. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Unit of Lung Toxicology, K.U.Leuven, Leuven (Belgium)
2. Departement of Chemistry, UA, Wilrijk (Belgium)
3. Research group EnVOC, Department of Sustainable Organic Chemistry and Technology, UGent, Gent (Belgium)
4. Royal Meteorological Institute, Brussels (Belgium)

An increased pulse pressure (difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure) suggests aortic stiffening. The objective of this study was to examine the acute effects of both particulate matter (PM) mass and composition on blood pressure, among elderly persons. We carried out a panel study in persons living in elderly homes in Antwerp, Belgium. We recruited 88 non-smoking persons, 70% women with a mean age of 83 years (standard deviation: 5.2). Blood pressure was measured and a blood sample was collected on two time points, which were chosen so that there was an exposure contrast in ambient PM exposure. The elemental content of the collected indoor and outdoor PM{sub 2.5} (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 {mu}m) mass concentration was measured. Oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (oxy-PAHs) on outdoor PM{sub 10} (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <10 {mu}m) were measured. Each interquartile range increase of 20.8 {mu}g/m Superscript-Three in 24-h mean outdoor PM{sub 2.5} was associated with an increase in pulse pressure of 4.0 mmHg (95% confidence interval: 1.8-6.2), in persons taking antihypertensive medication (n=57), but not in persons not using antihypertensive medication (n=31) (p for interaction: 0.02). Vanadium, iron and nickel contents of PM{sub 2.5} were significantly associated with systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure, among persons on antihypertensive medication. Similar results were found for indoor concentrations. Of the oxy-PAHs, chrysene-5,6-dione and benzo[a]pyrene-3,6-dione were significantly associated with increases in systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure. In elderly, pulse pressure was positively associated with acute increases in outdoor and indoor air pollution, among persons taking antihypertensive medication. These results might form a mechanistic pathway linking air pollution as a trigger of cardiovascular events.

• OSTI ID: 22157089
• Journal Information: Environmental Research, Journal Name: Environmental Research Vol. 117; ISSN ENVRAL; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
BLOOD
BLOOD PRESSURE
CHRYSENE
CONCENTRATION RATIO
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
IRON
NICKEL
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
PULSES
PYRENE
TOBACCO SMOKES
VANADIUM