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Arterial blood pressure and long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution: an analysis in the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE).

Authors :
Fuks KB
Weinmayr G
Foraster M
Dratva J
Hampel R
Houthuijs D
Oftedal B
Oudin A
Panasevich S
Penell J
Sommar JN
Sørensen M
Tiittanen P
Wolf K
Xun WW
Aguilera I
Basagaña X
Beelen R
Bots ML
Brunekreef B
Bueno-de-Mesquita HB
Caracciolo B
Cirach M
de Faire U
de Nazelle A
Eeftens M
Elosua R
Erbel R
Forsberg B
Fratiglioni L
Gaspoz JM
Hilding A
Jula A
Korek M
Krämer U
Künzli N
Lanki T
Leander K
Magnusson PK
Marrugat J
Nieuwenhuijsen MJ
Ostenson CG
Pedersen NL
Pershagen G
Phuleria HC
Probst-Hensch NM
Raaschou-Nielsen O
Schaffner E
Schikowski T
Schindler C
Schwarze PE
Søgaard AJ
Sugiri D
Swart WJ
Tsai MY
Turunen AW
Vineis P
Peters A
Hoffmann B
Source :
Environmental health perspectives [Environ Health Perspect] 2014 Sep; Vol. 122 (9), pp. 896-905. Date of Electronic Publication: 2014 May 16.
Publication Year :
2014

Abstract

Background: Long-term exposure to air pollution has been hypothesized to elevate arterial blood pressure (BP). The existing evidence is scarce and country specific.<br />Objectives: We investigated the cross-sectional association of long-term traffic-related air pollution with BP and prevalent hypertension in European populations.<br />Methods: We analyzed 15 population-based cohorts, participating in the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects (ESCAPE). We modeled residential exposure to particulate matter and nitrogen oxides with land use regression using a uniform protocol. We assessed traffic exposure with traffic indicator variables. We analyzed systolic and diastolic BP in participants medicated and nonmedicated with BP-lowering medication (BPLM) separately, adjusting for personal and area-level risk factors and environmental noise. Prevalent hypertension was defined as ≥ 140 mmHg systolic BP, or ≥ 90 mmHg diastolic BP, or intake of BPLM. We combined cohort-specific results using random-effects meta-analysis.<br />Results: In the main meta-analysis of 113,926 participants, traffic load on major roads within 100 m of the residence was associated with increased systolic and diastolic BP in nonmedicated participants [0.35 mmHg (95% CI: 0.02, 0.68) and 0.22 mmHg (95% CI: 0.04, 0.40) per 4,000,000 vehicles × m/day, respectively]. The estimated odds ratio (OR) for prevalent hypertension was 1.05 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.11) per 4,000,000 vehicles × m/day. Modeled air pollutants and BP were not clearly associated.<br />Conclusions: In this first comprehensive meta-analysis of European population-based cohorts, we observed a weak positive association of high residential traffic exposure with BP in nonmedicated participants, and an elevated OR for prevalent hypertension. The relationship of modeled air pollutants with BP was inconsistent.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1552-9924
Volume :
122
Issue :
9
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Environmental health perspectives
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
24835507
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1307725