Ambient air pollution and pulmonary vascular volume on computed tomography: the MESA Air Pollution and Lung cohort studies.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Air pollution alters small pulmonary vessels in animal models. We hypothesised that long-term ambient air pollution exposure would be associated with differences in pulmonary vascular volumes in a population-based study. METHODS:The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis recruited adults in six US cities. Personalised long-term exposures to ambient black carbon, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), oxides of nitrogen (NO _x ), particulate matter with a 50% cut-off aerodynamic diameter of <2.5??m (PM_2.5) and ozone were estimated using spatiotemporal models. In 2010-2012, total pulmonary vascular volume was measured as the volume of detectable pulmonary arteries and veins, including vessel walls and luminal blood volume, on noncontrast chest computed tomography (TPVV_CT). Peripheral TPVV_CT was limited to the peripheral 2?cm to isolate smaller vessels. Linear regression adjusted for demographics, anthropometrics, smoking, second-hand smoke, renal function and scanner manufacturer. RESULTS:The mean±sd age of the 3023 participants was 69.3±9.3?years; 46% were never-smokers. Mean exposures were 0.80??g·m^-3 black carbon, 14.6?ppb NO₂ and 11.0??g·m^-3 ambient PM_2.5. Mean±sd peripheral TPVV_CT was 79.2±18.2?cm³ and TPVV_CT was 129.3±35.1?cm³. Greater black carbon exposure was associated with a larger peripheral TPVV_CT, including after adjustment for city (mean difference 0.41 (95% CI 0.03-0.79)?cm³ per interquartile range; p=0.036). Associations for peripheral TPVV_CT with NO₂ were similar but nonsignificant after city adjustment, while those for PM_2.5 were of similar magnitude but nonsignificant after full adjustment. There were no associations for NO _x or ozone, or between any pollutant and TPVV_CT. CONCLUSIONS:Long-term black carbon exposure was associated with a larger peripheral TPVV_CT, suggesting diesel exhaust may contribute to remodelling of small pulmonary vessels in the general population.

SUBMITTER: Aaron CP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6910868 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature