Cardiovascular and Cognitive Health Effects Associated with Ultrafine Particulate Matter Exposure among Adults in the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study.
Corlin, Laura.
2015
-
Abstract: Ultrafine
particulate matter (UFP, particles < 0.1 µm aerodynamic diameter) may be the
most toxic size fraction of particulate matter. However, no longitudinal studies have
examined the association between UFP exposure and either biomarkers of cardiovascular
disease (CVD) risk or cognitive function among adults. We used data from 812 adults who
participated in the Boston Puerto Rican ... read moreHealth Study to assess whether UFP exposure was
associated with changes in CVD risk factors and with changes in cognitive function over
five years. Residential annual average UFP exposure (measured as particle number
concentration or PNC) was assigned using a model accounting for spatial and temporal
trends. We adjusted the PNC values for participants' inhalation rate to obtain the
particle inhalation rate (PIR). Multilevel linear models with random intercepts for each
participant were used to examine the association between UFP exposure and each outcome.
We found that UFP concentrations were associated with increases in systolic blood
pressure (95% CI for an inter-quartile increase in PNC = 0.3, 1.9 mmHg) and pulse
pressure (95% CI = 0.3, 1.4 mmHg), as well as the percent change in C-reactive protein
concentrations (95% CI = 1.8, 16.6%) and the cognitive decline rate (95% CI = -0.192,
-0.003 points). Each IQR increase in the PIR was associated with diastolic blood
pressure levels (95% CI = 0.4 - 1.7 mmHg) and cognitive function scores (95% CI =
-0.014, 0.204 points). Effect modification was evident by sex, medication use,
employment status, diabetes, smoking, family history of hypertension, depression, and
physical activity level. Although future work is needed to validate these results in
other populations and certain results found using PNC were inconsistent with results
found using the PIR, we found evidence that exposure to UFP is associated with increased
levels of CVD risk factors and reduced cognitive
function.
Thesis (M.S.)--Tufts University, 2015.
Submitted to the Dept. of Civil Engineering.
Advisor: Mark Woodin.
Committee: Doug Brugge, John Durant, and David Gute.
Keywords: Epidemiology, and Environmental health.read less - ID:
- cz30q452t
- Component ID:
- tufts:21384
- To Cite:
- TARC Citation Guide EndNote
