You are here:
PM2.5 EXPOSURE CHANGES HEART RATE VARIABILITY (HRV) AND BLOOD PARAMETERS IN STATE HIGHWAY PATROL TROOPERS
Citation:
Riediker, M, P A. Bromberg, W. E. Cascio, T. R. Griggs, M. Herbst, R W. Williams, AND R B. Devlin. PM2.5 EXPOSURE CHANGES HEART RATE VARIABILITY (HRV) AND BLOOD PARAMETERS IN STATE HIGHWAY PATROL TROOPERS. Presented at American Thoracic Society Meeting, Seattle, WA, May 16-21, 2003.
Description:
Epidemiological studies show an association between ambient particulate matter PM and cardiovascular mortality. Panel and controlled exposure studies report PM-associated changes in HRV and blood factors involved in clotting and inflammation. We investigated the effects of in-vehicle, roadside and ambient PM2.5 (PM < 2.5um) exposure on North Carolina State Highway Patrol troopers. Data from 9 non-smoking healthy male troopers (age 23 to 30) were analyzed using mixed models. Each was monitored on four consecutive days while on late shift (3 PM to midnight). Troopers refrained from alcohol, caffeine and medication. Blood was drawn 14 hours after each shift; lung function was tested before and after the shift and the troopers wore ambulatory EKG Holter monitors throughout the shift and the following night. Each patrol car was equipped with air quality monitors. The mean PM2.5 level was 24 ug/m3 (4 to 54 ug/m3). Associations with PM2.5 (shift mean) inside the cars (change per 10 ug/m3) were seen for red blood cell indices (ca. 1% change), leucocytes (%PMN +6%, %lymphocytes -10%), C-reactive protein (+32%), von Willebrand Factor (+12%), HRV the next morning (PNN50 +12%, SDNN +12%, HFP +15%, MCL +5%) and ectopic beats throughout the recording (+20%). Effect estimates for ambient and roadside PM2.5 were smaller and only a few were significant.The observed changes in these healthy men suggest significant physiological reactions to PM2.5 from mobile sources involving inflammatory as well as autonomic processes. We are currently testing the association of specific PM2.5 components with response parameters to explore potential mechanisms. This abstract of a proposed presentation does not necessarily reflect EPA policy
Funded By: US EPA CR-824195, Swiss NSF