Fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) air pollution and immune status among women in the Seattle area

Arch Environ Occup Health. 2011;66(3):155-65. doi: 10.1080/19338244.2010.539636.

Abstract

Changes in immune status have been suggested as a possible biologic mechanism by which particulate matter (PM) air pollution could lead to adverse health effects. The authors studied associations between ambient PM₂.₅ and immune status among 115 postmenopausal, overweight women in the greater Seattle, Washington, area. The authors evaluated 3-day, 30-day, and 60-day average PM₂.₅ values in relation to inflammation markers (C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, interleukin-6) and functional assays of cellular immunity (natural killer cell cytotoxicity, T-lymphocyte proliferation) at 3 time points for each woman during 1 year. Three-day averaged PM₂.₅ was inversely associated with anti-CD3-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation. There were no notable associations between the inflammation markers and PM₂.₅. If additional studies confirm our findings, then future health effect assessments for PM₂.₅ should consider changes in cellular immunity as an endpoint that may lead to overt clinical disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Air Pollutants / adverse effects*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis
  • Cities / epidemiology
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / drug effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immune System / drug effects*
  • Immunity, Cellular / drug effects
  • Inflammation / chemically induced
  • Interleukin-6 / analysis
  • Killer Cells, Natural / drug effects
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Middle Aged
  • Particulate Matter / adverse effects*
  • Serum Amyloid A Protein / analysis
  • Washington / epidemiology

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Biomarkers
  • Interleukin-6
  • Particulate Matter
  • Serum Amyloid A Protein
  • C-Reactive Protein