Associations between submicrometer particles exposures and blood pressure and heart rate in patients with lung function impairments.
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.
Chuang
Kai-Jen
KJ
Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, College of Public Health, Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiology Section, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chan
Chang-Chuan
CC
Shiao
Guang-Ming
GM
Su
Ta-Chen
TC
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
D000393:Air Pollutants