Ambient air pollution exposure and risk and progression of interstitial lung abnormalities: the Framingham Heart Study

Abstract

BackgroundAmbient air pollution accelerates lung function decline among adults, however, there are limited data about its role in the development and progression of early stages of interstitial lung disease.AimsTo evaluate associations of long-term exposure to traffic and ambient pollutants with odds of interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) and progression of ILA on repeated imaging.MethodsWe ascertained ILA on chest CT obtained from 2618 Framingham participants from 2008 to 2011. Among 1846 participants who also completed a cardiac CT from 2002 to 2005, we determined interval ILA progression. We assigned distance from home address to major roadway, and the 5-year average of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), elemental carbon (EC, a traffic-related PM2.5 constituent) and ozone using spatio-temporal prediction models. Logistic regression models were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, packyears of smoking, household tobacco exposure, neighbourhood household value, primary occupation, cohort and date.ResultsAmong 2618 participants with a chest CT, 176 (6.7%) had ILA, 1361 (52.0%) had no ILA, and the remainder were indeterminate. Among 1846 with a preceding cardiac CT, 118 (6.4%) had ILA with interval progression. In adjusted logistic regression models, an IQR difference in 5-year EC exposure of 0.14 µg/m3 was associated with a 1.27 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.55) times greater odds of ILA, and a 1.33 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.76) times greater odds of ILA progression. PM2.5 and O3 were not associated with ILA or ILA progression.ConclusionsExposure to EC may increase risk of progressive ILA, however, associations with other measures of ambient pollution were inconclusive.

Ambient air pollution exposure and radiographic pulmonary vascular volumes

“… 27 , 28 The total annual R 2 for EC estimates was 0.71–0.75 for 2004–2008. 29 Twenty-four hour estimates of ground-level ozone (O 3 ) exposure (at a 1 × 1 km resolution) was assigned using a prediction model, which also used a hybrid neural network using GEOS-Chem transport simulations, land use terms, and satellite-based estimates of total column and vertical profile O 3 (to estimate the fraction of ground-level O 3 in the total column O 3 ). 30 Finally, to account for tropospheric reactions of precursors that produce and deplete O 3 , the neural network model included emissions inventory daily United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Air Quality System measures of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds.…”

Circulating microRNA Signature Associated to Interstitial Lung Abnormalities in Respiratory Asymptomatic Subjects

“…Interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) are defined as specific patterns of increased lung densities identified on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans, usually in subjects without previous diagnosis of pulmonary disease. ILA are frequently observed with advanced age and are associated with smoking history and environmental pollution [1][2][3]. However, ILA are also observed in non-smokers and in some studies the development of these abnormalities was not dependent on smoking status at baseline [4].…”

Air pollutants and development of interstitial lung disease in patients with connective tissue disease: a population-based case–control study in Taiwan

“…20 Rice et al conducted a community-dwelling population-based study in Framingham and reported that higher long-term exposure to elemental carbon, an indicator of traffic pollution, was associated with the incidence and progression of interstitial lung abnormalities (ILAs); however, they found no association between average levels of PM2.5 and incident ILAs. 12 In detail, unlike the positive association found between elemental carbon (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.55) as well as PM2. Atherosclerosis (MESA) Lung study and reported that exposure to ambient NO X was associated with a higher prevalence of ILAs, but the association was not found with exposure to PM2.5 and O 3 .…”