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Particulate air pollution and the blood
A Seaton1, A Soutar, V Crawford
1Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, University of Aberdeen Medical School, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK.
Thorax
|October 20, 1999
Summary
Exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM10) is linked to changes in blood factors like hemoglobin and red blood cell count in older adults. This suggests PM10 may cause red blood cell sequestration, potentially explaining cardiovascular risks.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Hematology
- Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology
Background:
- Particulate air pollution, specifically PM10, is associated with increased mortality and hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease in the elderly.
- The mechanism may involve pulmonary inflammation triggered by fine particles, leading to secondary blood alterations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between personal exposure to PM10 and hematological factors in individuals aged 60 years and older.
- To determine if air pollution affects blood parameters, potentially explaining cardiovascular effects.
Main Methods:
- Repeated blood sampling and personal PM10 exposure estimation over 18 months in 112 individuals (aged 60+).
- Analysis of covariance used to assess relationships between blood values and PM10 exposure, adjusting for confounding factors.
- Comparison of personal exposure data with city center PM10 measurements.
Main Results:
- Negative correlations observed between personal PM10 exposure and hemoglobin, packed cell volume (PCV), and red blood cell count.
- City center PM10 measurements also showed negative correlations with hemoglobin, red cell count, PCV, and fibrinogen.
- Positive association found between city center PM10 and C-reactive protein levels.
Conclusions:
- This study is the first to link personal PM10 exposure to hematological changes.
- Inhalation of PM10 components may lead to red blood cell sequestration, potentially affecting red cell adhesiveness.
- Peripheral red cell sequestration offers a plausible explanation for the cardiovascular impacts of particulate air pollution.