Association between long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution and cardio-metabolic phenotypes: an MRI data-based analysis

Abstract: Long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is associated with cardiometabolic disease; however, its role in subclinical stages of disease development is unclear. Thus, we aimed to explore this association in a cross-sectional analysis, with cardiometabolic phenotypes derived from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Phenotypes of the left (LV) and right cardiac ventricle, whole-body adipose tissue (AT), and organ-specific AT were obtained by MRI in 400 participants of the KORA cohort. Land-use regression models were used to estimate residential long-term exposures to TRAP, e.g., nitrogen dioxides (NO2) or particle number concentration (PNC). Associations between TRAP and MRI phenotypes were modeled using linear regression. Participants’ mean age was 56 ± 9 years, and 42% were female. Long-term exposure to TRAP was associated with decreased LV wall thickness; a 6.0 μg/m3 increase in NO2 was associated with a −1.9% [95% confidence interval: −3.7%; −0.1%] decrease in mean global LV wall thickness. Furthermore, we found associations between TRAP and increased cardiac AT. A 2,242 n/cm3 increase in PNC was associated with a 4.3% [−1.7%; 10.4%] increase in mean total cardiac AT. Associations were more pronounced in women and in participants with diabetes. Our exploratory study indicates that long-term exposure to TRAP is associated with subclinical cardiometabolic disease states, particularly in metabolically vulnerable subgroups

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Environmental science & technology. - 58, 41 (2024) , 18064-18075, ISSN: 1520-5851

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Freiburg
• (who): Universität
• (when): 2024
• Creator: Woeckel, Margarethe ; Rospleszcz, Susanne ; Wolf, Kathrin ; Breitner-Busch, Susanne ; Ingrisch, Michael Stefan ; Bamberg, Fabian ; Ricke, Jens ; Schlett, Christopher L. ; Storz, Corinna ; Schneider, Alexandra ; Stoecklein, Sophia ; Peters, Annette

Further information

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c03163
• URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:25-freidok-2574247
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:37 AM CEST