Exposure to air pollution and cardiovascular risk in young children – a pilot project

Objective: To examine relationships between traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) and markers of pre-clinical cardiovascular risk in young children. Study design: We studied a cohort of healthy children ages 2–5 recruited from pediatric primary care sites (n = 122). We obtained child weight, height, blood pressure and hair nicotine levels. A blood sample was obtained for biomarkers of systemic inflammation, oxidation, and prevalence of circulating endothelial progenitor cells. This manuscript represents a secondary analysis. TRAP exposure (particulate levels, nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and proximity to major roadways) was assessed using national air pollution data based on child’s census tract of residence. Results: TRAP exposure had significant positive associations with prevalence of two of the three EPC subtypes (CD34 + /CD133 + /CD45− and CD133 + /CD45−) in unadjusted correlations. In a linear regression model, adjusting for sex, age, race, ethnicity, body mass index, parental education, child insurance, and secondhand smoke exposure, one EPC subtype (CD133 + /CD45−) had a positive significant correlation to every TRAP measure. No significant relationships between air pollution and measures of inflammation and oxidation was found. Conclusion: Our findings of the upregulation of EPCs may signal a response to early vascular damage during early childhood due to air pollution exposure.