Relations between air pollution and vascular development in 5-year old children: a cross-sectional study in the Netherlands

Environmental Health

Cornelis van der Ent¹  Oliver Schmitz²  Derek Karssenberg²  Gerard Hoek³  Martin Dijst⁴  Geertje Dalmeijer⁵  Cuno Uiterwaal⁵  Anna-Maria Ntarladima⁶  Diederick E. Grobbee⁷  Ilonca Vaartjes⁷ 

[1] 0000000090126352, grid.7692.a, Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, and Cystic Fibrosis Center Utrecht, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands;0000000120346234, grid.5477.1, Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands;0000000120346234, grid.5477.1, Global Geo Health Data Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands;0000000120346234, grid.5477.1, Global Geo Health Data Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands;0000000120346234, grid.5477.1, Netherlands Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands;0000000120346234, grid.5477.1, Global Geo Health Data Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands;Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research LISER, Luxemburg, Esch-sur-Alzette, UK;0000000120346234, grid.5477.1, Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands;0000000120346234, grid.5477.1, Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands;0000000120346234, grid.5477.1, Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands;0000000120346234, grid.5477.1, Global Geo Health Data Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands;0000000120346234, grid.5477.1, Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands;0000000120346234, grid.5477.1, Global Geo Health Data Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands;

关键词: Air pollution;    Exposure assessment;    Carotid artery;    Children;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12940-019-0487-1

来源: publisher

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundAir pollution has been shown to promote cardiovascular disease in adults. Possible mechanisms include air pollution induced changes in arterial wall function and structure. Atherosclerotic vascular disease is a lifelong process and childhood exposure may play a critical role. We investigated whether air pollution is related to arterial wall changes in 5-year old children. To this aim, we developed an air pollution exposure methodology including time-weighted activity patterns improving upon epidemiological studies which assess exposure only at residential addresses.MethodsThe study is part of an existing cohort study in which measurements of carotid artery intima-media thickness, carotid artery distensibility, elastic modulus, diastolic and systolic blood pressure have been obtained. Air pollution assessments were based on annual average concentration maps of Particulate Matter and Nitrogen Oxides at 5 m resolution derived from the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects. We defined children’s likely primary activities and for each activity we calculated the mean air pollution exposure within the assumed area visited by the child. The exposure was then weighted by the time spent performing each activity to retrieve personal air pollution exposure for each child. Time spent in these activities was based upon a Dutch mobility survey. To assess the relation between the vascular status and air pollution exposure we applied linear regressions in order to adjust for potential confounders.ResultsCarotid artery distensibility was consistently associated with the exposures among the 733 5-years olds. Regression analysis showed that for air pollution exposures carotid artery distensibility decreased per standard deviation. Specifically, for NO2, carotid artery distensibility decreased by − 1.53 mPa− 1 (95% CI: -2.84, − 0.21), for NOx by − 1.35 mPa− 1 (95% CI: -2.67, − 0.04), for PM2.5 by − 1.38 mPa− 1 (95% CI: -2.73, − 0.02), for PM10 by − 1.56 mPa− 1 (95% CI: -2.73, − 0.39), and for PM2.5absorbance by − 1.63 (95% CI: -2.30, − 0.18). No associations were observed for the rest outcomes.ConclusionsThe results of this study support the view that air pollution exposure may reduce arterial distensibility starting in young children. If the reduced distensibility persists, this may have clinical relevance later in life. The results of this study further stress the importance of reducing environmental pollutant exposures.

【 授权许可】

CC BY