Road Repairs

Abstract

Editorialby guest on May 8, 2018 http://atvb.ahajournals.org/ Downloaded from Miller et al Traffic Exposure and Angiogenic Cells 2267DeJarnett et al 16 raise an important limitation of the study, that the design does not assess exposure on an individual level. Potential exposure to traffic-related pollutants was based on the location of the volunteers' residential address and did not account for time spent in this residence or activity when not at this location. These factors influence not only total exposure, but also exposure to specific pollutants and the dose rate of exposure. Subsequent studies could consider personal exposure to PM through the use of portable PM monitoring devices 23,24 that are evolving to provide greater reliability, better stratification of particle size distributions, and sampling of particulates for toxicological studies. Ultimately, controlled human exposure studies and experimental studies are necessary to demonstrate causality and to understand the functional consequences of exposure on circulating progenitor cells. However, if the current observations are verified, then it would suggest that our daily exposure to traffic-derived air pollutants not only results in vascular injury, but may also affect our capacity to repair the cardiovascular system.Despite improvements in air quality over the last few decades, air pollution remains a burgeoning public health issue that demands greater attention to ensure effective regulation. Programmes of funding that bring together multiple disciplines (epidemiologists, exposure scientists and modelers, physicians and toxicologists) will be vital to accurately address which air pollutants are responsible for each aspect of their pathophysiological actions. Such harmonization of research aims will better identify susceptible groups, refine current monitoring strategies, and support the implementation of effective public health policy to tackle air pollution. Sources of FundingThe authors are funded by grants (PG/10/042/28388, RG/10/9/28286, FS/10/024/28266, and SP/15/8/31575) and chair (CH/09/002) awards from the British Heart Foundation. They are part of the British Heart Foundation Centre for Vascular Regeneration (RM/13/2/30158). DisclosuresNone. References Figure.Potential pathways through which traffic-derived particles could affect cardiovascular function. In the current edition of the journal, DeJarnett et al 16 demonstrate that exposure of traffic-derived air pollution decreases numbers of specific populations of circulating angiogenic cells. The mechanisms instigating these changes and the biological consequences of these alterations in these cell profiles, particularly vascular repair mechanisms, will be important future avenues of investigation.

Oxidative Stress and Cardiovascular Risk: Obesity, Diabetes, Smoking, and Pollution

“…The particulate components of DE alone have the capacity to exacerbate thrombosis and inhibit fibrinolysis (169). C-DEAP also induces alterations in circulating stem cell populations (170,171), potentially disrupting vascular repair (172). …”

Do the pollution related to high-traffic roads in urbanised areas pose a significant threat to the local population?

“…Many hours of staying in places of residence located near high-traffic roads is connected with increased level of the AC133+ stem cells responsible for processes of blood vessel reparation, the presence of which in peripheral blood may be an early indicator of damage to the cardiovascular system (caused to a high extent by particles with PM 2.5 diameter) (De Jarnett et al, 2015). Exposure to noise and air pollution may also lead to elevated peripheral blood pressure and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases (Chang et al, 2015; Miller et al, 2015; Fecht et al, 2016). Constant remaining in locations situated near high-traffic roads is also connected with the risk of increased CRP (C-reactive protein) concentration in peripheral blood, which is an important risk factor of CVD (cardiovascular diseases) (Lanki et al, 2015).…”