Abstract

Increasing evidence links air pollution to the risk of cardiovascular disease. This study investigated the association between ischemic heart disease (IHD) prevalence and exposure to traffic-related air pollution (nitrogen dioxide [NO₂], fine particulate matter [PM₂.₅], and ozone [O₃]) in a population of susceptible subjects in Toronto. Local (NO₂) exposures were modeled using land use regression based on extensive field monitoring. Regional exposures (PM₂.₅, O₃) were modeled as confounders using inverse distance weighted interpolation based on government monitoring data. The study sample consisted of 2360 patients referred during 1992 to 1999 to a pulmonary clinic at the Toronto Western Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to diagnose or manage a respiratory complaint. IHD status was determined by clinical database linkages (ICD-9-CM 412-414). The association between IHD and air pollutants was assessed with a modified Poisson regression resulting in relative risk estimates. Confounding was controlled with individual and neighborhood-level covariates. After adjusting for multiple covariates, NO₂ was significantly associated with increased IHD risk, relative risk (RR) = 1.33 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2, 1.47). Subjects living near major roads and highways had a trend toward an elevated risk of IHD, RR = 1.08 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.18). Regional PM₂.₅ and O₃ were not associated with risk of IHD.

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Publisher Full Text

Authors

Beckerman BS, Jerrett M, Finkelstein M, Kanaroglou P, Brook JR, Arain MA, Sears MR, Stieb D, Balmes J, Chapman K

Institution

School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720-7360, USA. beckerman@berkeley.edu

Source

Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A 75:7 2012 pg 402-11

MeSH

Aged
Air Pollution
Cohort Studies
Cross-Sectional Studies
Environmental Monitoring
Female
Humans
Inhalation Exposure
Male
Middle Aged
Models, Theoretical
Myocardial Ischemia
Nitrogen Dioxide
Ontario
Oxidants, Photochemical
Ozone
Particulate Matter
Poisson Distribution
Prevalence
Regression Analysis
Risk

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22524595