Personal NO2 and Volatile Organic Compounds Exposure Levels are Associated with Markers of Cardiovascular Risk in Women in the Cape Town Region of South Africa

Abstract

Exposure to ambient NO2 and benzene, toluene ethyl-benzene and m+p- and o-xylenes (BTEX) is associated with adverse cardiovascular effects, but limited information is available on the effects of personal exposure to these compounds in South African populations. This 6-month follow-up study aims to determine 7-day personal ambient NO2 and BTEX exposure levels via compact passive diffusion samplers in female participants from Cape Town, and investigate whether exposure levels are associated with cardiovascular risk markers. Overall, the measured air pollutant exposure levels were lower compared to international standards. NO2 was positively associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), and inversely associated with the central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE) and mean baseline brachial artery diameter. o-xylene was associated with DBP and benzene was strongly associated with carotid intima media thickness (cIMT). Our findings showed that personal air pollution exposure, even at relatively low levels, was associated with several markers of cardiovascular risk in women residing in the Cape Town region. ; This research was funded by the ERAfrica program of the EU 7th Framework Program (Grant number: IC-003), Department of Science and Technology in South Africa (Grant number: DST/CON 0077/2014), The Belgian Science Policy in Belgium (Grant number BL/67/eranet03), and the Osterreichische Agentur fur internationale Mobilitat und Kooperation in Bildung, Wissenschaft und Forschung, OeAD GmbH (OAD) in Austria (Grant number: KEF-Projekt P202). In addition, Frans Everson received a grant from Hasselt University in the context of BILA (bilateral) collaboration with Stellenbosch University (BOF16BL05).