The cross-sectional and longitudinal association between air pollution and salivary cortisol: Evidence from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Anjum Hajat¹, Marnie F Hazlehurst², Sherita Hill Golden³, Sharon Stein Merkin⁴, Teresa Seeman⁵, Adam A Szpiro⁶, Joel D Kaufman⁷, Ana Diez Roux⁸

Affiliations

¹ University of Washington, Department of Epidemiology, Box 357236, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Electronic address: anjumh@uw.edu.
² University of Washington, Department of Epidemiology, Box 357236, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Electronic address: marnieh@uw.edu.
³ Johns Hopkins University, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, 1830 E. Monument Street, Room 9052, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. Electronic address: sahill@jhmi.edu.
⁴ University of California Los Angeles, Geffen School of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, 10945 Le Conte Avenue, Suite 2339, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. Electronic address: SMerkin@mednet.ucla.edu.
⁵ University of California Los Angeles, Geffen School of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, 10945 Le Conte Avenue, Suite 2339, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. Electronic address: TSeeman@mednet.ucla.edu.
⁶ University of Washington, Department of Biostatistics, Box 357232, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Electronic address: aszpiro@uw.edu.
⁷ University of Washington, Departments of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences and Epidemiology, Box 354695, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Electronic address: joelk@uw.edu.
⁸ Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Urban Health Collaborative Nesbitt Hall 3215 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Electronic address: avd37@drexel.edu.

PMID: 31491811
PMCID: PMC6994173
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105062

The cross-sectional and longitudinal association between air pollution and salivary cortisol: Evidence from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Anjum Hajat et al. Environ Int. 2019 Oct.

. 2019 Oct:131:105062.

doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105062. Epub 2019 Aug 15.

Authors

Anjum Hajat¹, Marnie F Hazlehurst², Sherita Hill Golden³, Sharon Stein Merkin⁴, Teresa Seeman⁵, Adam A Szpiro⁶, Joel D Kaufman⁷, Ana Diez Roux⁸

Affiliations

¹ University of Washington, Department of Epidemiology, Box 357236, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Electronic address: anjumh@uw.edu.
² University of Washington, Department of Epidemiology, Box 357236, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Electronic address: marnieh@uw.edu.
³ Johns Hopkins University, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, 1830 E. Monument Street, Room 9052, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. Electronic address: sahill@jhmi.edu.
⁴ University of California Los Angeles, Geffen School of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, 10945 Le Conte Avenue, Suite 2339, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. Electronic address: SMerkin@mednet.ucla.edu.
⁵ University of California Los Angeles, Geffen School of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, 10945 Le Conte Avenue, Suite 2339, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. Electronic address: TSeeman@mednet.ucla.edu.
⁶ University of Washington, Department of Biostatistics, Box 357232, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Electronic address: aszpiro@uw.edu.
⁷ University of Washington, Departments of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences and Epidemiology, Box 354695, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Electronic address: joelk@uw.edu.
⁸ Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Urban Health Collaborative Nesbitt Hall 3215 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Electronic address: avd37@drexel.edu.

PMID: 31491811
PMCID: PMC6994173
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105062

Abstract

Background: Cortisol, a stress hormone released by the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, is critical to the body's adaptive response to physiological and psychological stress. Cortisol has also been implicated in the health effects of air pollution through the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. This study evaluates the cross-sectional and longitudinal association between several air pollutants and salivary cortisol.

Methods: We used data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a cohort of 45-85 years old participants from six US cities. Salivary cortisol was evaluated at two time points between 2004 and 2006 and then again from 2010 to 2012. Cortisol samples were taken several times per day on two or three consecutive days. Particulate matter <2.5 μm in diameter (PM_2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x) in the year prior to cortisol sampling were examined. We used piecewise linear mixed models that were adjusted for demographics, socioeconomic status and cardiovascular risk factors to examine both cross-sectional and longitudinal associations. Longitudinal models evaluated change in cortisol over time.

Results: The pooled cross-sectional results revealed largely null results with the exception of a 9.7% higher wake-up cortisol associated with a 10 ppb higher NO₂ (95% CI, -0.2%, 20.5%). Among all participants, the features of the cortisol curve became flatter over 5 years. The wake-to-bed slope showed a more pronounced flattening over time (0.014, 95% CI, 0.0, 0.03) with a 10 ppb higher NO₂ level. Other air pollutants were not associated with change in cortisol over time.

Conclusions: Our results suggest only a moderate association between traffic related air pollution and cortisol. Very few epidemiologic studies have examined the long-term impact of air pollution on the stress response systems, thus warranting further exploration of these findings.

Keywords: Cortisol; Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; NO(2); PM(2.5); Sympathetic nervous system; Traffic related air pollution.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interest: none

References

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The cross-sectional and longitudinal association between air pollution and salivary cortisol: Evidence from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

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The cross-sectional and longitudinal association between air pollution and salivary cortisol: Evidence from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

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