Can Air Pollution Cause Cardiovascular Disease in Children?

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traffic-related air pollution
Source: Simone Ramella

A USC study explored the link between exposure to air pollution in children and the changes in carotid arteries over time; indicative of cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for nearly a third of all deaths each year around the world. An estimated 17.9 billion deaths occurred in 2015 because of the disease. Along with age, unhealthy diet, and family history, environmental factors such as air pollution are also common risk factors of cardiovascular disease. It is believed that one of the ways air pollutants cause CVD is through atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries. Therefore, researchers often use changes in carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) as a marker for cardiovascular health.

Air pollution exposure has been strongly linked to adverse cardiovascular effects in adults. However, relatively few studies have examined the impact of air pollutants on the cardiovascular health of children and young adults

Shohreh Farzan, lead study author

There is strong evidence linking air pollution to the development of CVD in adults. Now, for the first time, a team of researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) has investigated this link in children. They analysed the progression in CIMT in children as they entered adulthood.

The Children’s Health Study (CHS) is one of the largest studies evaluating long-term effects of air pollution on the health of children. The team of researchers measured CIMT in 70 CHS participants that belonged to 13 different communities spread out across Southern California. Thus, representing a diverse setting. Using ultrasound images, they measured CIMT in children at age 10 and then at follow-up at age 21-22.

An Increase in Progression

The researchers calculated each child’s average residential childhood exposure to pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, and particular matter. Moreover, they included the average traffic-related air pollutant exposure and traffic density for the participants. Estimates for traffic-related nitrogen oxides exposure was based on how close the child’s home was to busy freeways.

Results revealed an association between traffic-related nitrogen oxides and traffic density with CIMT. Thus, suggesting that increased childhood exposure to auto emissions increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

We found that greater exposures to pollutants in auto emissions, like nitrogen oxides, and greater traffic density in childhood were linked to greater yearly increases in CIMT from childhood to adulthood

Shohreh Farzan, lead study author

The researchers believe that through understanding the factors responsible for cardiovascular changes, you can an identify at-risk children and provide timely help. Thus, preventing progression and cardiovascular diseases as adults.

Reference:

Shohreh F. Farzan et al. Childhood traffic-related air pollution and adverse changes in subclinical atherosclerosis measures from childhood to adulthood, Environmental Health (2021). DOI: 10.1186/s12940-021-00726-x

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