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J. Weuve, R. Puett, J. Schwartz, J. Yanosky, F. Laden, F. Grodstein (2011)
Exposure to particulate air pollution and cognitive decline in older women.Archives of internal medicine, 172 3
S. Sabia, A. Elbaz, A. Dugravot, J. Head, M. Shipley, Gareth Hagger-Johnson, M. Kivimaki, A. Singh‐Manoux (2012)
Impact of smoking on cognitive decline in early old age: the Whitehall II cohort study.Archives of general psychiatry, 69 6
Sabia S, Elbaz A, Dugravot A (2012)
Impact of smoking on cognitive decline in early old age: the Whitehall II Cohort Study [published online February 6, 2012].Arch Gen Psychiatry, 69
J. Lewtas (2007)
Air pollution combustion emissions: characterization of causative agents and mechanisms associated with cancer, reproductive, and cardiovascular effects.Mutation research, 636 1-3
Grant WB (2009)
Air pollution in relation to U.S. cancer mortality rates: an ecological studyAnticancer Res, 29
W. Grant (2009)
Air pollution in relation to U.S. cancer mortality rates: an ecological study; likely role of carbonaceous aerosols and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.Anticancer research, 29 9
K. Dutta, D. Ghosh, Arshed Nazmi, K. Kumawat, A. Basu (2010)
A Common Carcinogen Benzo[a]pyrene Causes Neuronal Death in Mouse via Microglial ActivationPLoS ONE, 5
The recent article by Weuve and colleagues1 provides additional evidence that particulate air pollution contributes to cognitive decline. The mechanisms suggested to explain the observed association are generally consistent with an additional characteristic of a major component of PM2.5 (particulate matter ≤2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter), black carbon, namely adsorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The role of PAHs in cancer and reproductive and cardiovascular disease was reviewed by Lewtas.2 One PAH, benzo[a]pyrene, has been shown to cause neuronal death in a mouse through a combination of increase in reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide, and proinflammatory cytokines.3 Smoking is a risk factor for cognitive decline,4 and both particulates and PAHs are important emissions from smoking tobacco. An ecological study of cancer mortality rates in the United States used an index of air pollution for acid deposition.5 There are 3 primary sources of black carbon particulates: coal-fired combustion, diesel combustion, and wood combustion. That index had the highest values in the Northeast and was considered to be associated primarily with coal-fired power plants. That index was correlated with respiratory, digestive tract, urogenital, female organ, blood, and skin cancer. There was no indication that automobiles using gasoline such as in southern California were associated with increased risk of cancer. Thus, it would be interesting to know if the data by Weuve and colleagues1 showed any evidence of a geographical variation, as well as whether any information on black carbon and PAH exposure could be obtained to extend the study. Back to top Article Information Correspondence: Dr Grant, Sunlight, Nutrition, and Health Research Center, PO Box 641603, San Francisco, CA 94164-1603 (wbgrant@infionline.net). Financial Disclosure: None reported. References 1. Weuve J, Puett RC, Schwartz J, Yanosky JD, Laden F, Grodstein F. Exposure to particulate air pollution and cognitive decline in older women. Arch Intern Med. 2012;172(3):219-22722332151PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 2. Lewtas J. Air pollution combustion emissions: characterization of causative agents and mechanisms associated with cancer, reproductive, and cardiovascular effects. Mutat Res. 2007;636(1-3):95-13317951105PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 3. Dutta K, Ghosh D, Nazmi A, Kumawat KL, Basu A. A common carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene causes neuronal death in mouse via microglial activation. PLoS One. 2010;5(4):e998420376308PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 4. Sabia S, Elbaz A, Dugravot A, et al. Impact of smoking on cognitive decline in early old age: the Whitehall II Cohort Study [published online February 6, 2012]. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2012;69(6):627-63522309970PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 5. Grant WB. Air pollution in relation to U.S. cancer mortality rates: an ecological study; likely role of carbonaceous aerosols and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Anticancer Res. 2009;29(9):3537-354519667146PubMedGoogle Scholar
Archives of Internal Medicine – American Medical Association
Published: Jul 9, 2012
Keywords: air pollution,polycyclic hydrocarbons, aromatic,cognitive impairment
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