Gesundheitswesen 2016; 78 - A68
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1586578

Elemental composition of fine particulate matter and arterial blood pressure in a population-based German cohort

K Fuks 1, F Hennig 1, D Sugiri 1, T Kuhlbusch 2, S Moebus 3, R Erbel 4, KH Jöckel 5, B Hoffmann 6
  • 1IUF – Leibniz Institut für Umweltmedizinische Forschung, Düsseldorf
  • 2IUTA e.V., Bereich „Luftreinhaltung & Nachhaltige Nanotechnologie', Duisburg
  • 3Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen
  • 4Westdeutsches Herzzentrum Essen, Klinik für Kardiologie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen
  • 5Institut für Medizinische Informatik, Biometrie & Epidemiologie Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen
  • 6Institut für Allgemeinmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf

Background: We investigated the associations of elemental components of particulate matter (PM) with arterial BP in a German population-based cohort.

Methods: We used baseline data (2000 – 2003) from the prospective population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall study in the highly urbanized Ruhr area of Germany. Residential long-term concentrations of particulate matter < 10 µm (PM10) and < 2.5 µm (PM2.5) in diameter and selected elemental components (Cu, Fe, V, Zn, S, Si) were estimated based on land-use regression models within the European ESCAPE and TRANSPHORM projects. Systolic and diastolic BP was measured according to a standardized procedure with an automated oscillometric device. We employed linear regression models, adjusting for age, sex, lifestyle, socio-economic status and body mass index. Additionally we stratified our analysis by intake of BP lowering medication (BPLM).

Results: We included 4,596 participants with non-missing data on BP, BPLM, covariates, and exposures in the analysis. Elemental components of PM were predicted with traffic, industry, port proximity, and population density indicators with at least 50% of leave-one-out cross-validation R2.

The following elements indicated positive associations with at least one BP metric in the fully adjusted model: PM10V (3.3 mmHg systolic [95% CI: -2.7; 9.3] and 3.7 mmHg diastolic [0.5; 7.0] per 3 ng/m3), PM2.5Cu (2.2 mmHg systolic [0.3; 4.1] and 0.5 mmHg diastolic [-0.6; 1.5] per 5 ng/m3) and PM2.5V (5.6 mmHg systolic [-5.5; 16.8] and 6.3 mmHg diastolic [0.2; 12.3] per 2 ng/m3).

In the stratified analysis by BPLM intake we observed a positive relationship of PM10V, PM10Si, and PM2.5V with BP only in participants taking BPLM. PM2.5S was associated with lower BP in medicated participants.

Conclusions: Long-term exposure to markers of traffic and industrial emissions within ambient fine PM was associated with increased arterial BP. Positive associations were mostly observed in the subgroup of participants taking BPLM.