title: Associations between submicrometer particles exposures and blood pressure and heart rate in patients with lung function impairments.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate whether submicrometer particle is associated with elevated blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR).
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured ambulatory systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), and HR using a portable BP monitoring system and number concentrations of submicrometer particle with a size range of 0.02 to 1 microm (NC0.02-1) by a P-TRAK Ultrafine Particle Counter for 10 patients with lung function impairments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found NC0.02-1 exposures at 1- to 3-hour moving averages were associated with the elevation of SBP, DBP, and HR. There were 1.4 to 3.4-mm-Hg increases in SBP, 1.4 to 2.2-mm-Hg increases in DBP, and 0.3 to 3.5-beats/min increases in HR for 10,000 particles/cm increases in NC0.02-1 at 1- to 3-hour moving averages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposures to submicrometer particles were associated with short-term increases in BP and HR in patients with lung function impairments.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, College of Public Health, Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiology Section, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kai-Jen
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Chang-Chuan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Guang-Ming
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Shiao
authors.forename: Ta-Chen
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System; D001794:Blood Pressure; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010316:Particle Size; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants