AIRGENE

Research team at KTL

• Juha Pekkanen, D.Med.Sc., docent
• Timo Lanki, M.Sc.
• Pekka Tiittanen M.Sc.

Finnish collaboration

• Veikko Salomaa, D.Med.Sc., docent, Dept. of Epidemiology and Health Promotion
• Kari Luotola, D.Med.Sc, Clinic of Cardiology, Helsinki University Hospital
• Prof. Markku Kulmala
• Pasi Aalto, Ph.D, Dept. of Physical Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland

International collaboration

• Stockholm County Council, Sweden
• Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
• ASLRME-Local Health Authority, Rome, Italy
• GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Neuherberg, Germany
• University of Ulm, Germany
• IMIM-Municipal Institute for Medical Research, Barcelona, Spain
• National And Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece

Funding

• European commission (QLK4-CT-2002-O2236)

Contact person

• Timo Lanki

Background

Recent studies suggest that cardiovascular effects of air pollution develope through inflammatory processes. The levels of inflammatory mediators can be used as indicators of inlammatory status. The response of these inflammatory markers to air pollutions might be influenced by person's genes.

Objectives

• To assess effects of air pollution, especially ultrafine particles (<100 nm), on inflammatory markers among persons who have experienced myocardial infarction
• to determine among these persons smaller groups that are susceptible to air pollution effects because of their genes

Description

In each six European cities taking part in the multicenter study, 200 persons who have experienced myocardial infarction during the last 6 years will be recruited. In Finland the study is carried out in Helsinki. Blood samples to determine inflammatory markers will be collected six times, one month apart. In addition, genes that regulate inflammatory procesess will be studied, as these might affect the magnitude of inflammation induced by air pollution. Questionnaires are used to collect information in the beginning of the study on persons' health, medication, and risk factors for myocardial infarction. During the study, questionnaires are used to estimate changes in these variables and air pollution exposures. Main part of exposure assessment consists of measurements of particulate and gaseous air pollutants at fixed outdoor measurement sites.

Links

• [www.gsf.de/epi/en/ag_epi_luftsch_1.html#airgene Homepage]

Files

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