Short-term effects of air pollution on heart rate variability in senior adults in Steubenville, Ohio.
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 (SO4), 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 mug/m in SO4 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.


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to traffic-related particles, elevated levels of sulfate particles may also adversely affect autonomic function.
Luttmann-Gibson
Heike
H
Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. hgibson@hsph.harvard.edu
Suh
Helen H
HH
Coull
Brent A
BA
Dockery
Douglas W
DW
Sarnat
Stefanie E
SE
Schwartz
Joel
J
Stone
Peter H
PH
Gold
Diane R
DR
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D013997:Time Factors; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D001335:Vehicle Emissions