Grantee Research Project Results
Short-term effects of air pollution on heart rate variability in senior adults in Steubenville, Ohio.
Citation:
Luttmann-Gibson H, Suh HH, Coull BA, Dockery DW, Sarnat SE, Schwartz J, Stone PH, Gold DR. Short-term effects of air pollution on heart rate variability in senior adults in Steubenville, Ohio. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2006;48(8):780-788.
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: We examined the association between ambient air pollution levels and heart rate variability (HRV) in a panel study of 32 subjects. METHODS: We used linear mixed models to analyze the effects of fine particles (PM2.5), sulfate (SO42-), elemental carbon (EC), and gases on log-transformed standard deviation of normal RR intervals (SDNN), mean square of differences between adjacent RR intervals (r-MSSD), and high- and low-frequency power (HF, LF). RESULTS: An interquartile range (IQR) increase of 5.1 µg/m3 in SO42- on the previous day was associated with a decrease of -3.3% SDNN (95% confidence = -6.0% to -0.5%), -5.6% r-MSSD (-10.7% to -0.2%), and -10.3% HF (-19.5% to -0.1%). Associations with total PM2.5 were similar. HRV was not associated with EC, NO2, SO2, or O3. CONCLUSION: In addition to traffic-related particles, elevated levels of sulfate particles may also adversely affect autonomic function.The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.