The detrimental health effects of traffic-related air pollution: a role for DNA methylation?

Abstract

Exposure to air pollution and particularly that from diesel engines has been known for many years to affect asthma symptoms and hospitalizations (1) as well as all-cause (2) and cardiovascular mortality (3). Indeed, it has been shown that 2 hours of walking in shopping areas with high levels of diesel fumes (Oxford Street, London) containing ultrafine particles and elemental carbon can result in a significant loss of lung function and an increase in inflammatory mediators (4). Such changes were rapid and prolonged with a return to normal lung function occurring between 5 and 22 hours. The effect of chronic exposure was not examined.