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Ozone exposure is associated with acute changes in inflammation, fibrinolysis, and endothelial cell function in coronary artery disease patients
Citation:
Mirowsky, J., M. Carraway, R. Dhingra, H. Tong, L. Neas, D. Diaz-Sanchez, W. Cascio, M. Case, J. Crooks, E. Hauser, E. Dowdy, W. Krause, AND R. Devlin. Ozone exposure is associated with acute changes in inflammation, fibrinolysis, and endothelial cell function in coronary artery disease patients. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. Academic Press Incorporated, Orlando, FL, 16:126, (2017).
Impact/Purpose:
This study reported associations between ambient ozone concentrations and a number of cardiovascular biological end points in older people with cardiovascular disease. Although this has been shown repeatedly for PM, this is one of only a handful of studies to show similar associations with ozone.
Description:
Background: Air pollution is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, of which ozone is a major contributor. Several studies have found associations between ozone and cardiovascular morbidity, but the results have been inconclusive. We investigated associations between ozone and changes across biological pathways associated with cardiovascular disease. Methods: Using a panel study design, thirteen participants with coronary artery disease were assessed for markers of systemic inflammation, heart rate variability and repolarization, lipids, blood pressure, and endothelial function. Daily measurements of ozone and particulate matter (PM2.5) were obtained from central monitoring stations. Single (ozone) and two-pollutant (ozone and PM2.5) models were used to assess percent changes in measurements per interquartile ranges of pollutants. Results: Per interquartile increase in ozone, changes in tissue plasminogen factor (6.6%, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 0.4, 13.2), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (40.5%, 95% CI = 8.7, 81.6), neutrophils (8.7% 95% CI = 1.5, 16.4), monocytes (10.2%, 95% CI = 1.0, 20.1), interleukin-6 (15.9%, 95% CI = 3.6, 29.6), large-artery elasticity index (-19.5%, 95% CI = -34.0, -1.7), and the baseline diameter of the brachial artery (-2.5%, 95% CI = -5.0, 0.1) were observed. These associations were robust in the two-pollutant model. Conclusions: We observed alterations across several pathways associated with cardiovascular disease in thirteen coronary artery disease patients following ozone exposures, independent of PM2.5. The results support the biological plausibility of ozone-induced cardiovascular effects. The effects were found at concentrations below the EPA National Ambient Air Quality Standards for both ozone and PM2.5.
