Exposure to black carbon particles may increase risk of eye problems 

Long-term exposure to ambient particles of black carbon—a byproduct of combustion and one of the most pervasive ambient particles in the world—may increase the risk of intraocular pressure among certain individuals, according to new research led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Intraocular pressure is one of the leading risk factors for a variety of eye diseases, including glaucoma and blindness.

Published November 8, 2018, in JAMA Ophthalmology, the study examined data from 419 men who had periodic follow-up study visits from 2000-2011. The findings showed that those who were more susceptible to biological oxidative stress—a measure indicating an imbalance in the body’s ability to handle tissue-damaging oxygen-related molecules—were at a higher risk of having increased intraocular pressure when exposed to black carbon for at least a year compared with people who were less susceptible to such stress.

The researchers noted that, in the future, if additional studies confirm these findings, monitoring people’s exposure to black carbon could lower their risk for intraocular pressure and associated diseases.

Read the JAMA Ophthalmology article: Association of Long-term Ambient Black Carbon Exposure and Oxidative Stress Allelic Variants With Intraocular Pressure in Older Men