https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/iaaee

Inflammation-based Atherosclerosis Associated with Environmental Exposures

Atherosclerosis

Topic Overview

Status: Topic under evaluation

Background Information

Inflammation is a cellular response to chemical damage, physical damage, or infection. It can be part of a healthy restorative process or contribute to further tissue injury and disease when the response becomes chronic. The extent to which environmental exposures ultimately lead to adverse health effects through an inflammatory pathway is unclear, despite growing evidence for a role of the environment in a wide range of diseases that involve inflammation.

NTP has identified atherosclerosis as a good endpoint for evaluating potential health effects of environmental chemicals that may act by first causing inflammation. Atherosclerosis is characterized by restricted blood flow from the buildup of plaques on artery walls. This disease was selected because there is a well-established role for inflammation in the process leading to atherosclerosis. There is a significant public health impact of atherosclerosis and it is one of the dominant conditions underlying stroke and cardiovascular disease in general. Environmental exposures with reported associations to atherosclerosis include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, persistent organic pollutants, diesel exhaust particles, particulate matter, phthalates, metals, and second-hand tobacco smoke. For many of these chemicals, there is evidence for an association with both inflammation and atherosclerosis.

NTP is conducting a systematic review to evaluate whether environmental substances contribute to inflammation that leads to atherosclerosis and to evaluate key biomarkers of the associated inflammation. During scoping activities, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were identified as a potential focus for the evaluation.

Documents

Documents for Inflammation-based Atherosclerosis
Date Document
Jul 13, 2023 Protocol for systematic review of inflammation-based atherosclerosis associated with exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Jun 18, 2014 NTP Evaluation Concept
Jun 18, 2014 Meeting Presentation: Inflammation-based Atherosclerosis Associated with Environmental Exposures

Meetings & Events

Listing of related events
Date Event Event Type Materials
Jun 17, 2014

NTP Board of Scientific Counselors Meeting

Board of Scientific Counselors

  • Agenda
  • Meeting Materials

    NTP Board of Scientific Counselors Meeting Meeting Materials
    June 17-18, 2014

    Supplemental materials for some events, meetings, and workshops prior to 2020 have been archived. These archived materials frequently include presentations, background materials, and public comments. Email us or use our contact form to request a list or copy of archived materials.

     

     

  • Minutes

Supplemental materials for some events, meetings, and workshops prior to 2020 have been archived. These archived materials frequently include presentations, background materials, and public comments. Email us or use our contact form to request a list or copy of archived materials.


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