Abstract
Introduction: Exposure to air pollution has been positively associated with systemic inflammation. However, few large scale studies were conducted in regions with low levels of air pollution. We therefore studied the associations of air pollution with systemic inflammation biomarkers among participants in the Framingham Offspring and Third Generation cohorts in Greater Boston area. Methods: We measured C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, interleukin 6 (IL6), and tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2) in 3943 participants living within 50 km of a central site monitor in Boston. We calculated the 1-, 2-, 3-, 5-, and 7-day moving averages of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), black carbon (BC), sulfate (SO 4 2- ), nitrogen oxides (NO x ), and ozone (O 3 ) prior to the exam visits. We used linear mixed effects models and linear regression models to evaluate repeated measures and cross-sectional associations respectively, adjusting for age, sex, individual and area level measures of socioeconomic position, lifestyle and clinical factors, time trend, and weather. We examined effect modification by age (>/≤ 65 years), sex, and diabetes history. Results: The mean age was 53(±14) years and 54% were women. PM 2.5 , BC, and SO 4 2- were positively associated with CRP across multiple moving averages, and were statistically significant at 5-day moving averages: a 5 μg/m 3 higher PM 2.5 or a 0.5 μg/m 3 higher BC was associated with 3.9% (95% CI: 0.5, 7.3) or 5.3% (95% CI: 0.1, 10.9) higher CRP, respectively. Positive associations were observed for PM 2.5 , BC, and NO x with IL6; and for BC, SO 4 2- , and O 3 with TNFR2. SO 4 2- and O 3 were negatively associated with fibrinogen. Associations of BC and NO x with CRP and of BC with IL6 were of a larger magnitude among participants with diabetes than those without. Conclusions: In a region in compliance with current US-EPA regulation, we find positive associations of short-term exposure to ambient air pollution with CRP, IL6 and TNFR2 but not for fibrinogen.
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