Blood pressure changes in association with black carbon exposure in a panel of healthy adults are independent of retinal microcirculation

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
More Details
ISSN:01604120
DOI:10.1016/j.envint.2014.11.006
Published in:Environment International
Language:English