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PMID: 18467508 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Traffic-related particles are associated with elevated homocysteine: the VA normative aging study.

American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine ·Vol. 178 ·No. 3 ·2008-08-01 ·Pages 283-9

Park SK, O'Neill MS, Vokonas PS, Sparrow D, Spiro A, Tucker KL, Suh H, Hu H, Schwartz J

Abstract

Recent epidemiologic studies have shown that homocysteine, a sulfur-containing amino acid formed during the metabolism of methionine, is a risk factor for atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, stroke, and thrombosis. Particulate air pollution has been related to cardiovascular death and hospital admission, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully elucidated. We examined the associations between ambient particulate air pollution and plasma concentrations of homocysteine among 960 community-residing older men (mean age, 73.6 +/- 6.9 yr). Total homocysteine in plasma, measured using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection, was regressed on each ambient particulate pollutant (black carbon, organic carbon, sulfate or PM(2.5)), and effect modification by plasma and dietary B vitamins (folate, B6, and B12) was examined. The median concentration of total homocysteine was 10.6 micromol/L. Statistically significant positive associations of total homocysteine were observed with traffic-related particles (black carbon and organic carbon). No association was observed with sulfate, an indicator of coal combustion particles, or PM(2.5) (particulate matter < or = 2.5 microm in aerodynamic diameter). The effects of black carbon and organic carbon were more pronounced in persons with low concentrations of plasma folate and vitamin B12. Exposures to ambient particles, particularly from traffic, are associated with elevated plasma total homocysteine. Homocysteine may be a component or biological marker of the oxidation pathways underlying the effect of ambient particles on the cardiovascular system.

MeSH Terms
Aged Aged, 80 and over Air Pollutants/adverse effects,analysis Air Pollution/adverse effects,analysis Biomarkers/blood Carbon/adverse effects,analysis Folic Acid Homocysteine/blood Humans Longitudinal Studies Male Middle Aged Particulate Matter/adverse effects,analysis Sulfur/analysis Vehicle Emissions/analysis Vitamin B 12/blood
Chemicals
Air Pollutants Biomarkers Particulate Matter Vehicle Emissions Homocysteine Sulfur Carbon Folic Acid Vitamin B 12
Authors & Affiliations
9 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Park Sung Kyun
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 109 S. Observatory Street, SPH II-M6240, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. [email protected]
O'Neill Marie S
Vokonas Pantel S
Sparrow David
Spiro Avron
Tucker Katherine L
Suh Helen
Hu Howard
Schwartz Joel
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Article Info
Journal
American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
Abbr.
Am J Respir Crit Care Med
ISSN
1535-4970
DOI
10.1164/rccm.200708-1286OC
Email
[email protected]
Published
2008-08-01
Epub
2008-00-08
Pages
283-9
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
9421642
PMCID
PMC2542426
Subset
IM
Grants
NIEHS NIH HHS · ES00002 · United States
NIEHS NIH HHS · ES10798 · United States
NIEHS NIH HHS · P42-ES05947 · United States
NIEHS NIH HHS · ES05257 · United States
NIEHS NIH HHS · P01-ES009825 · United States
NIEHS NIH HHS · R01-ES015172 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1164/rccm.200708-1286OC PMC Full Text View journal details
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