Indoor Particles Affect Vascular Function in the Aged

Rationale:

Exposure to particulate matter is associated with risk of cardiovascular events, possibly through endothelial dysfunction, and indoor air may be most important.

Objectives:We investigated effects of controlled exposure to indoor air particles on microvascular function (MVF) as the primary endpoint and biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress as

secondary endpoints in a healthy elderly population.

Methods:

Atotal of 21 nonsmoking couples participated in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study with two consecutive 48-hourexposures to either particle-filtered or nonfiltered air (2,533–4,058 and 7,718–12,988 particles/cm3, respectively) in their homes.

Measurements and Main Results:

MVF was assessed noninvasively by measuring digital peripheral artery tone after arm ischemia. Secondary endpoints included hemoglobin, red blood cells, platelet count, coagulation factors, P-selectin, plasma amyloid A, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-a, protein oxidation measured as 2-aminoadipic semialdehyde in plasma, urinary

8-iso-prostaglandin F2a, and blood pressure. Indoor air filtration significantly improved MVF by 8.1% (95% confidence interval, 0.4– 16.3%), and the particulate matter (diameter,2.5 mm) mass of the indoor particles was more important than the total number concentration (10–700 nm) for these effects. MVF was significantly associated with personal exposure to iron, potassium, copper, zinc, arsenic, and lead in the fine fraction. After Bonferroni correction,

none of the secondary biomarkers changed significantly.

Conclusions:

Reduction of particle exposure by filtration of recirculated indoor air for only 48 hours improved MVF in healthy elderly citizens, suggesting that this may be a feasible way of reducing the

risk of cardiovascular disease .

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Association Between Fine Particulate Matter and Diabetes Prevalence in the U.S.

Association Between Fine Particulate Matter and Diabetes Prevalence in the U.S.

OBJECTIVE Recent studies have drawn attention to the adverse effects of ambient air pollutants such as particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) on human health. We evaluated the association between PM2.5 exposure and diabetes prevalence in the U.S. and explored factors that may influence this relationship.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The relationship between PM2.5 levels and diagnosed diabetes prevalence in the U.S. was assessed by multivariate regression models at the county level using data obtained from both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for years 2004 and 2005. Covariates including obesity rates, population density, ethnicity, income, education, and health insurance were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau and the CDC.

RESULTS Diabetes prevalence increases with increasing PM2.5 concentrations, with a 1% increase in diabetes prevalence seen with a 10 μg/m³ increase in PM2.5 exposure (2004: β = 0.77 [95% CI 0.39–1.25], P < 0.001; 2005: β = 0.81 [0.48–1.07], P < 0.001). This finding was confirmed for each study year in both univariate and multivariate models. The relationship remained consistent and significant when different estimates of PM2.5 exposure were used. Even for counties within guidelines for EPA PM2.5 exposure limits, those with the highest exposure showed a >20% increase in diabetes prevalence compared with that for those with the lowest levels of PM2.5, an association that persisted after controlling for diabetes risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest PM2.5 may contribute to increased diabetes prevalence in the adult U.S. population. These findings add to the growing evidence that air pollution is a risk factor for diabetes.

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Association Between Fine Particulate Matter and Diabetes Prevalence in the U.S.