Recent exposure to particle radioactivity and biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation: The Framingham Heart Study

Abstract

Background: Decay products of radioactive materials may attach to ambient fine particles and form radioactive aerosol. Internal ionizing radiation source from inhaled radioactive aerosol may contribute to the fine particulate matter (PM2.5)-inflammation pathway. However, few studies in humans have examined the associations. Objectives: To examine the associations between particle radioactivity and biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation among participants from the Framingham Offspring and Third Generation cohorts. Methods: We included 3,996 participants who were not current smokers and lived within 50 km from our central air pollution monitoring station. We estimated regional mean gross beta radioactivity from monitors in the northeastern U.S. as a surrogate for ambient radioactive particles, and calculated the 1- to 28-day moving averages. We used linear regression models for fibrinogen, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-6, and myeloperoxidase which were measured once, and linear mixed effect models for 8-epi-prostaglandin F2α, C-reactive protein, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), P-selectin, and tumor necrosis factor receptor-2 that were measured up to twice, adjusting for demographics, individual- and area-level socioeconomic positions, time, meteorology, and PM2.5. We also examined whether the associations differed by median age, sex, diabetes status, PM2.5 levels, and black carbon levels. Results: The mean age was 54 years and 54% were women. An interquartile range (3×10−3 pCi/m3) higher beta radioactivity level at the 7-day moving average was associated with 5.09% (95% CI: 0.92, 9.43), 2.65% (1.10, 4.22), and 4.71% (95% CI: 3.01, 6.44) higher levels of interleukin-6, MCP-1, and P-selectin, but with 7.01% (95% CI: −11.64, −2.15) and 2.70% (95% CI: −3.97, −1.42) lower levels of 8-epi-prostaglandin F2α and ICAM-1, respectively. Conclusions: Regional mean particle radioactivity was positively associated with interleukin-6, MCP-1, and P-selectin, but negatively with ICAM-1 and 8-epi-prostaglandin F2α among our study participants.

Short-term exposures to particulate matter gamma radiation activities and biomarkers of systemic inflammation and endothelial activation in COPD patients

“…Mice exposed to low doses of gamma radiation also developed evidence of chronic pulmonary inflammation (Christofidou-Solomidou et al, 2015). As evidence of a systemic effect of PM radioactivity in persons without COPD, in members of the Framingham Heart Study, Li et al (2018) found that exposure to higher PM radioactivity was associated with higher circulating levels of IL-6 and P-selectin. Another recent study also found higher PM radioactivity was associated with an elevation in both diastolic and systolic blood pressure (Nyhan et al, 2018).…”

Metformin protects against PM2.5-induced lung injury and cardiac dysfunction independent of AMP-activated protein kinase α2

“…Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that long-term exposure to high concentrations of PM 2.5 increases the risk of a number of cardiorespiratory illnesses, such as asthma [6], bronchitis [7], chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [8], coronary artery disease [9] and heart failure [10]. As revealed by many toxicological studies, the adverse health effects of PM 2.5 are associated with enhanced inflammation and oxidative stress [11,12]. Considering that ambient PM 2.5 has maintained high levels for several years and air quality could not be improved in a short period, it is urgent to find effective therapeutic approaches for attenuating PM 2.5 associated diseases.…”

Ambient PM gross β-activity and glucose levels during pregnancy

“…However, the properties that make PM toxic and can lead to the development of GDM have not been elucidated. A property that has been proposed is particle radioactivity, the radioactive component of PM in the air, which also is associated with markers of inflammation and oxidative stress [ 12 ].…”