Bibliographic Details
Title: |
Blood pressure changes in association with black carbon exposure in a panel of healthy adults are independent of retinal microcirculation |
Authors: |
Tijs Louwies, Tim Nawrot, Bianca Cox, Evi Dons, Joris Penders, Eline Provost, Luc Int Panis, Patrick De Boever |
Source: |
Environment International, Vol 75, Iss , Pp 81-86 (2015) |
Publisher Information: |
Elsevier, 2015. |
Publication Year: |
2015 |
Collection: |
LCC:Environmental sciences |
Subject Terms: |
Environmental sciences, GE1-350 |
More Details: |
Exposure to ambient particulate matter and elevated blood pressure are risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Microvascular changes might be an important pathway in explaining the association between air pollution and blood pressure. The objective of the study was to evaluate the role of the retinal microcirculation in the association between black carbon (BC) exposure and blood pressure.We estimated subchronic BC exposure based on 1-week personal measurements (μ-Aethalometer, AethLabs) in 55 healthy nurses. Blood pressure and retinal microvasculature were measured on four different days (range: 2–4) during this week.Subchronic BC exposure averaged (± SD) 1334 ± 631 ng/m3 and ranged from 338 ng/m3 to 3889 ng/m3. An increased exposure of 631 ng/m3 BC was associated with a 2.77 mm Hg (95% CI: 0.39 to 5.15, p = 0.027) increase in systolic blood pressure, a 2.35 mm Hg (95% CI: 0.52 to 4.19, p = 0.016) increase in diastolic blood pressure and with 5.65 μm (95% CI: 1.33 to 9.96, p = 0.014) increase in central retinal venular equivalent. Mediation analysis failed to reveal an effect of retinal microvasculature in the association between blood pressure and subchronic BC exposure.In conclusion, we found a positive association between blood pressure and subchronic black carbon exposure in healthy adults. This finding adds evidence to the association between black carbon exposure and cardiovascular health effects, with elevated blood pressure as a plausible intermediate effector. Our results suggest that the changes in a person's blood pressure as a result of subchronic black carbon exposure operate independently of the retinal microcirculation. Keywords: Air pollution, Black carbon, Blood pressure, Retinal microcirculation, Mediation analysis |
Document Type: |
article |
File Description: |
electronic resource |
Language: |
English |
ISSN: |
0160-4120 |
Relation: |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412014003286; https://doaj.org/toc/0160-4120 |
DOI: |
10.1016/j.envint.2014.11.006 |
Access URL: |
https://doaj.org/article/5d58498ea85b4e80a848e8171d6565c2 |
Accession Number: |
edsdoj.5d58498ea85b4e80a848e8171d6565c2 |
Database: |
Directory of Open Access Journals |