Chronic exposure to biomass fuel smoke and markers of endothelial inflammation

Abstract

Indoor smoke exposure may affect cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk via lung-mediated inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial inflammation. We sought to explore the association between indoor smoke exposure from burning biomass fuels and a selected group of markers for endothelial inflammation. We compared serum concentrations of amyloid A protein, E-selectin, soluble ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, von Willebrand factor (VWF), and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in 228 biomass exposed vs. 228 non-exposed participants living in Puno, Peru. Average age was 56 years (SD=13), average BMI was 26.5 kg/m2 (SD=4.4), 48% were male, 59.4% completed high school and 2% reported a physician diagnosis of CVD. In unadjusted analysis, serum levels of soluble ICAM-1 (330 vs. 302 ng/mL; p<0.001), soluble VCAM-1 (403 vs. 362 ng/mL; p<0.001), and E-selectin (54.2 vs. 52.7 ng/mL; p=0.05) were increased in biomass exposed vs. non-exposed participants, respectively; whereas serum levels of vWF (1148 vs. 1311 mU/mL; p<0.001) and hs-CRP (2.56 vs. 3.12 mg/L; p<0.001) were decreased, respectively. In adjusted analyses, chronic exposure to biomass fuels remained positively associated with serum levels of soluble ICAM-1 (p=0.03) and VCAM-1 (p=0.05) and E-selectin (p=0.05), and remained negatively associated with serum levels of vWF (p=0.02) and hs-CRP (p<0.001). Daily exposure to biomass fuel smoke was associated with important differences in specific biomarkers of endothelial inflammation and may help explain accelerated atherosclerosis among those who are chronically exposed.

Systemic serum amyloid A as a biomarker for exposure to zinc and/or copper-containing metal fumes

“…Furthermore, VCAM-1 has been found to be a suitable biomarker for chronic exposure to biomass fuel smoke. 45 However, consistent with our results, the expression of VCAM-1 did not obviously change in comparison with the control in in vitro zinc oxide nanoparticles-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells. 46 As many cells use several different CAMs to mediate cellcell adhesion, it might be helpful to investigate further CAM candidates in future studies.…”

Inflammatory health effects of indoor and outdoor particulate matter

“…108 Daily biomass fuel use has been linked to development of cardiovascular disorders (CVDs). 109 Chronic exposure to biomass smoke particles is associated with an increase in levels of biomarkers of endothelial inflammation, including E-selectin, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and vascular adhesion molecule 1, in the serum of participants, 110 which might help us understand accelerated atherosclerosis induced by biomass smoke particles. Dutta et al 111 found higher serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-a, and C-reactive protein in household biomass users, which predisposes them to increased risk of CVD development compared with control subjects (Fig 2).…”

C‐reactive protein from dried blood spots: Application to household air pollution field studies

“…Finally, two cross‐sectional studies reported differences in CRP concentrations assessed via venous‐drawn blood samples among populations using different fuel or stove types. CRP was higher among women using biomass stoves as compared to liquified petroleum gas stoves in rural India but lower among biomass‐exposed compared to non–biomass‐exposed men and women living in Puno, Peru; the heterogenous study populations and residual confounding are limitations that may explain these discrepancies.…”

“…[17][18][19][20] Two previous feasibility studies (our study among Honduran women 11 Values presented for sVCAM represent the mean change in units of ng/mL for each 1 unit increase in the natural-logarithmic transformed pollution variable. biomass-exposed compared to non-biomass-exposed men and women living in Puno, Peru 22 ; the heterogenous study populations and residual confounding are limitations that may explain these discrepancies.…”