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Particulate air pollution and vascular reactivity: the bus stop study

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Abstract

Objective

Particulate air pollution is associated with cardiovascular morbidity but mechanisms are not well understood. We tested the effects on vascular reactivity of exposure to fine particulates matter mass (PM2.5), number of particles ≤1 μm/m3 (PM1.0) and nitrogen dioxide concentration (NO2).

Method

About 39 healthy volunteers sat outside for 2 h at two different Ottawa bus stops. Flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) of the brachial artery was then measured by ultrasound and expressed as: (maximum artery diameter after release of a blood pressure cuff inflated above systolic pressure—baseline resting diameter)/baseline resting diameter.

Results

A 30 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 exposure corresponded to a 0.48% reduction in FMD, P = 0.05 representing a 5% relative change in the maximum ability to dilate. Results were consistent between the two bus stops and not sensitive to type of analysis. No significant association was found between FMD and NO2, PM1.0 or traffic density.

Conclusion

PM2.5 may reduce the capacity to vasodilate, a potential explanation for the documented association with cardiovascular morbidity.

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Abbreviations

PM2.5 :

Particulates matter mass

PM1.0 :

Number of particles ≤1 μm/m3

NO2 :

Nitrogen dioxide concentration

COPD:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

TEI:

Thermo Environmental Instruments Inc.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Canada, A.L. 4602C, 400 Cooper Street, Room 2045, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1A 0K9

    Robert Dales

  2. Air Health Effects Division, Health Canada, 269 Laurier Avenue, Room 3026, Postal Locator 4903B, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1A 0K9

    Ling Liu

  3. Air Health Effects Division, Health Canada, 269 Laurier Avenue, Room 3-030, Postal Locator 4903B, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1A 0K9

    Mietek Szyszkowicz

  4. Nuclear Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital and Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin Street, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1Y 4W7

    Mary Dalipaj

  5. Air Health Effects Division, Health Canada, 269 Laurier Avenue, Room 3-068, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1A 0K9

    Jeff Willey

  6. Air Health Effects Division, Health Canada, 269 Laurier Avenue West, 3rd Floor, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1A 0K9

    Ryan Kulka

  7. Nuclear Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, 40 Ruskin Street, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1Y 4W7

    Terrence D. Ruddy

  8. Nuclear Cardiology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin Street, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1Y 4W7

    Terrence D. Ruddy

Authors
  1. Robert Dales
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  2. Ling Liu
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  3. Mietek Szyszkowicz
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  4. Mary Dalipaj
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  5. Jeff Willey
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  6. Ryan Kulka
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  7. Terrence D. Ruddy
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert Dales.

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Dales, R., Liu, L., Szyszkowicz, M. et al. Particulate air pollution and vascular reactivity: the bus stop study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 81, 159–164 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-007-0199-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-007-0199-7

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