title: Ergonomics. The effect of occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke on the heart rate variability of bar and restaurant workers.
abstract: Changes in heart rate variability (HRV) have been linked with cardiac disease and death. Exposure to particulate matter from various sources such as tobacco smoke has been shown to cause alterations in HRV. This study investigated the effects of occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) on HRV. Air monitoring was conducted in three bars in which smoking was permitted and one bar where smoking was not permitted. Pre- and post-work shift heart rate monitoring was conducted on volunteer staff from the establishments. Heart rate variability parameters, including SDNN and RMSSD, were calculated, and the differences between pre- and post-shift values were plotted and analyzed with respect to ETS exposure. Post-shift minus pre-shift values of SDNN and RMSSD significantly decreased with exposure to ETS (p < 0.05). Occupational exposure to ETS may decrease heart rate variability.
authors.affiliation: Purdue University School of Health Sciences, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: McGlothlin
authors.forename: Frank S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: Neil J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: C David
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Bridges
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D010316:Particle Size; D012147:Restaurants; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution