Title
Long-term effects of traffic-related air pollution on mortality in a Dutch cohort (NLCS-AIR study)
Author
Beelen, R.
Hoek, G.
van den Brandt, P.A.
Goldbohm, R.A.
Fischer, P.
Schouten, L.J.
Jerrett, M.
Hughes, E.
Armstrong, B.
Brunekreef, B.
TNO Kwaliteit van Leven
Publication year
2008
Abstract
Background: Several studies have found an effect on mortality of between-city contrasts in long-term exposure to air pollution. The effect of within-city contrasts is still poorly understood. Objectives: We studied the association between long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution and mortality in a Dutch cohort. Methods: We used data from an ongoing cohort study on diet and cancer with 120,852 subjects who were followed from 1987 to 1996. Exposure to black smoke (BS), nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM2.5), as well as various exposure variables related to traffic, were estimated at the home address. We conducted Cox analyses in the full cohort adjusting for age, sex, smoking, and area-level socioeconomic status. Results: Traffic intensity on the nearest road was independently associated with mortality. Relative risks (95% confidence intervals) for a 10-μg/m3 increase in BS concentrations (difference between 5th and 95th percentile) were 1.05 (1.00-1.11) for natural cause, 1.04 (0.95-1.13) for cardiovascular, 1.22 (0.99-1.50) for respiratory, 1.03 (0.88-1.20) for lung cancer, and 1.04 (0.97-1.12) for mortality other than cardiovascular, respiratory, or lung cancer. Results were similar for NO2 and PM2.5, but no associations were found for SO2. Conclusions: Traffic-related air pollution and several traffic exposure variables were associated with mortality in the full cohort. Relative risks were generally small. Associations between natural-cause and respiratory mortality were statistically significant for NO2 and BS. These results add to the evidence that long-term exposure to ambient air pollution is associated with increased mortality.
Subject
Health
Leefomgeving en gezondheid
Air pollution
Cohort
Traffic
Nitrogen dioxide
Sulfur dioxide
Adult
Age
Aged
Ambient air
Cardiovascular disease
City
Cohort analysis
Confidence interval
Controlled study
Data extraction
Diet
Female
Follow up
Gender
Long term exposure
Lung cancer
Male
Neoplasm
Particulate matter
Respiratory tract disease
Risk factor
Smoke
Smoking
Social status
Statistical analysis
Statistical significance
Air Pollutants
Cohort Studies
Environmental Exposure
Humans
Mortality
Netherlands
Vehicle Emissions
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:b7920259-8b39-4879-bd58-279f2833ba48
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.10767
TNO identifier
240621
ISSN
0091-6765
Source
Environmental Health Perspectives, 116 (2), 196-202
Document type
article