Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation

12-2022

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

M.S.

Department

Pharmacology and Toxicology

Degree Program

Pharmacology and Toxicology, MS

Committee Chair

Srivastava, Sanjay

Committee Co-Chair (if applicable)

Hein, David

Committee Member

Hein, David

Committee Member

Hellmann, Jason

Committee Member

Wysoczynski, Marcin

Committee Member

Cave, Matthew

Author's Keywords

Cardiovascular disease; atherosclerosis; endothelium; VOCs; exposure

Abstract

Pollution has been identified as the leading environmental cause of non-communicable disease and premature deaths globally. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are gaseous chemical constituents of pollution derived from a variety of sources, including industrial solvents and byproducts, automobile exhaust, tobacco smoke, cleaning supplies, and personal care products. VOCs are also abundant at various Superfund and Hazardous Waste Sites. Emerging data suggest that VOC exposure is associated with several adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease (CVD). VOCs and their metabolites can potentially damage the endothelial lining of blood vessels, resulting in perturbed vascular function and vascular inflammation. We hypothesize that VOC exposure augments CVD risk, which is reflected by significant changes in subclinical biomarkers. To examine the effects of VOC exposures on vascular inflammation, we measured associations between urinary metabolites of VOCs and biomarkers of CVD, including microparticles and circulating angiogenic cells.

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