Research

Exposure to ambient concentrations of particulate air pollution does not influence vascular function or inflammatory pathways in young healthy individuals

Elvira V Bräuner¹ , Peter Møller¹ , Lars Barregard² , Lars O Dragsted³ , Marianne Glasius^4,5 , Peter Wåhlin⁵ , Peter Vinzents^1,6 , Ole Raaschou-Nielsen⁷ and Steffen Loft¹

¹  Institute of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Health Science Faculty, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

²  Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden

³  The National Food Institute, Danish Technical University and Institute of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark

⁴  Department of Chemistry, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark

⁵  Department of Atmospheric Environment, National Environmental Research Institute, Roskilde, Denmark

⁶  Eurofins Miljø A/S, Galten, Denmark

⁷  Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark

author email corresponding author email

Particle and Fibre Toxicology 2008, 5:13doi:10.1186/1743-8977-5-13

Published:	6 October 2008

Abstract

Background

Particulate air pollution is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events although the involved mechanisms are poorly understood. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of controlled exposure to ambient air fine and ultrafine particles on microvascular function and biomarkers related to inflammation, haemostasis and lipid and protein oxidation.

Methods

Twenty-nine subjects participated in a randomized, two-factor crossover study with or without biking exercise for 180 minutes and with 24 hour exposure to particle rich (number concentrations, NC: 11600 ± 5600 per cm³, mass concentrations: 13.8 ± 7.4 μg/m³ and 10.5 ± 4.8 μg/m³ for PM_10-2.5 and PM_2.5, respectively) or particle filtered (NC: 555 ± 1053 per cm³) air collected above a busy street. Microvascular function was assessed non-invasively by measuring digital peripheral artery tone following arm ischemia. Biomarkers included haemoglobin, red blood cells, platelet count, coagulation factors, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor α, lag time to copper-induced oxidation of plasma lipids and protein oxidation measured as 2-aminoadipic semialdehyde in plasma.

Results

No statistically significant differences were observed on microvascular function or the biomarkers after exposure to particle rich or particle filtered air.

Conclusion

This study indicates that exposure to air pollution particles at outdoor concentrations is not associated with detectable systemic inflammation, lipid or protein oxidation, altered haemostasis or microvascular function in young healthy participants.