Traffic air pollution and mortality from cardiovascular disease and all causes: a Danish cohort study

• Main Authors: Raaschou-Nielsen Ole (Author), Andersen Zorana (Author), Jensen Steen (Author), Ketzel Matthias (Author), Sørensen Mette (Author), Hansen Johnni (Author), Loft Steffen (Author), Tjønneland Anne (Author), Overvad Kim (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: BMC, 2012-09-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1186/1476-069X-11-60; 1476-069X
• Keywords: Traffic; Air pollution; Cardiovascular mortality; Total mortality; Cohort; Industrial medicine. Industrial hygiene; RC963-969; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: Environmental Health, Vol 11, Iss 1, p 60 (2012)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Traffic air pollution has been linked to cardiovascular mortality, which might be due to co-exposure to road traffic noise. Further, personal and lifestyle characteristics might modify any association.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We followed up 52 061 participants in a Danish cohort for mortality in the nationwide Register of Causes of Death, from enrollment in 1993-1997 through 2009, and traced their residential addresses from 1971 onwards in the Central Population Registry. We used dispersion-modelled concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) since 1971 as indicator of traffic air pollution and used Cox regression models to estimate mortality rate ratios (MRRs) with adjustment for potential confounders.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mean levels of NO₂ at the residence since 1971 were significantly associated with mortality from cardiovascular disease (MRR, 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-1.51, per doubling of NO₂ concentration) and all causes (MRR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.04-1.23, per doubling of NO₂ concentration) after adjustment for potential confounders. For participants who ate < 200 g of fruit and vegetables per day, the MRR was 1.45 (95% CI, 1.13-1.87) for mortality from cardiovascular disease and 1.25 (95% CI, 1.11-1.42) for mortality from all causes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Traffic air pollution is associated with mortality from cardiovascular diseases and all causes, after adjustment for traffic noise. The association was strongest for people with a low fruit and vegetable intake.</p>