Long-term effects of air pollution on ankle-brachial index

Abstract Background Prior studies have investigated the association of PM2.5 exposure with arterial stiffness measured by ankle-brachial index (ABI) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), of which conclusions are inconsistent. Moreover, limited evidence is available on the contributory role of PM2.5 exposure on the arterial stiffness index. Methods We used the population data from the Beijing Health Management Cohort and conducted a longitudinal analysis. The annual average concentration of PM2.5 for 35 air pollutant monitoring sites in Beijing from 2014 to 2018 was used to estimate individual exposure by different interpolation methods. Multivariate logistic regression and linear regression were conducted to assess the association of annual average PM2.5 concentration with the incidence of higher baPWV, the progression of ABI, and baPWV, respectively. Results The association between PM2.5 exposure and incidence of higher baPWV was not significant (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 0.82–1.50, P = 0.497). There was − 0.16% (95% CI: − 0.43-0.11%) decrease in ABI annually and 1.04% (95% CI: 0.72–1.37%) increase in baPWV annually with each increment of 10 μg/m3 average PM2.5 concentration. Conclusions Long-term exposure to PM2.5 was associated with the progression of arterial stiffness in Beijing. This study suggests that improvement of air quality may help to prevent arterial stiffness.

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Analyzing Individual-Level Secondary Data with Instrumental Variable Methods Is Useful for Studying the Effects of Air Pollution on Dementia

Journal of Alzheimer s Disease ◽

10.3233/jad-200497 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 79 (1) ◽

pp. 15-23

Author(s):

Kelly C. Bishop ◽

Sehba Husain-Krautter ◽

Jonathan D. Ketcham ◽

Nicolai V. Kuminoff ◽

Corbett Schimming

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Instrumental Variable ◽

Secondary Data ◽

Quality Data ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Individual Level ◽

Medicare Claims Data ◽

Advance Knowledge ◽

Air Quality Data

We hypothesize that analyzing individual-level secondary data with instrumental variable (IV) methods can advance knowledge of the long-term effects of air pollution on dementia. We discuss issues in measurement using secondary data and how IV estimation can overcome biases due to measurement error and unmeasured variables. We link air-quality data from the Environmental Protection Agency’s monitors with Medicare claims data to illustrate the use of secondary data to document associations. Additionally, we describe results from a previous study that uses an IV for pollution and finds that PM2.5’s effects on dementia are larger than non-causal associations.

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Long-term Effects of Air Pollution and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Risk

Annals of Epidemiology ◽

10.1016/j.annepidem.2021.07.015 ◽

2021 ◽

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Lateral Sclerosis

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Anthropogenic Effects on Forest Ecosystems at Various Spatio-Temporal Scales

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1100/tsw.2002.129 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. 827-841 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Michael Bredemeier

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Long Range ◽

Acid Deposition ◽

Soil Degradation ◽

Forest Ecosystems ◽

Global Scale ◽

Soil Productivity ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

The World

The focus in this review of long-term effects on forest ecosystems is on human impact. As a classification of this differentiated and complex matter, three domains of long-term effects with different scales in space and time are distinguished: 1- Exploitation and conversion history of forests in areas of extended human settlement 2- Long-range air pollution and acid deposition in industrialized regions 3- Current global loss of forests and soil degradation.There is an evident link between the first and the third point in the list. Cultivation of primary forestland — with its tremendous effects on land cover — took place in Europe many centuries ago and continued for centuries. Deforestation today is a phenomenon predominantly observed in the developing countries, yet it threatens biotic and soil resources on a global scale. Acidification of forest soils caused by long-range air pollution from anthropogenic emission sources is a regional to continental problem in industrialized parts of the world. As a result of emission reduction legislation, atmospheric acid deposition is currently on the retreat in the richer industrialized regions (e.g., Europe, U.S., Japan); however, because many other regions of the world are at present rapidly developing their polluting industries (e.g., China and India), “acid rain” will most probably remain a serious ecological problem on regional scales. It is believed to have caused considerable destabilization of forest ecosystems, adding to the strong structural and biogeochemical impacts resulting from exploitation history.Deforestation and soil degradation cause the most pressing ecological problems for the time being, at least on the global scale. In many of those regions where loss of forests and soils is now high, it may be extremely difficult or impossible to restore forest ecosystems and soil productivity. Moreover, the driving forces, which are predominantly of a demographic and socioeconomic nature, do not yet seem to be lessening in strength. It can only be hoped that a wise policy of international cooperation and shared aims can cope with this problem in the future.

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