title: Particle traps prevent adverse vascular and prothrombotic effects of diesel engine exhaust inhalation in men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In controlled human exposure studies, diesel engine exhaust inhalation impairs vascular function and enhances thrombus formation. The aim of the present study was to establish whether an exhaust particle trap could prevent these adverse cardiovascular effects in men.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen healthy volunteers (mean age, 25±3 years) were exposed to filtered air and diesel exhaust in the presence or absence of a particle trap for 1 hour in a randomized, double-blind, 3-way crossover trial. Bilateral forearm blood flow and plasma fibrinolytic factors were assessed with venous occlusion plethysmography and blood sampling during intra-arterial infusion of acetylcholine, bradykinin, sodium nitroprusside, and verapamil. Ex vivo thrombus formation was determined with the use of the Badimon chamber. Compared with filtered air, diesel exhaust inhalation was associated with reduced vasodilatation and increased ex vivo thrombus formation under both low- and high-shear conditions. The particle trap markedly reduced diesel exhaust particulate number (from 150 000 to 300 000/cm(3) to 30 to 300/cm(3); P<0.001) and mass (320±10 to 7.2±2.0 μg/m(3); P<0.001), and was associated with increased vasodilatation, reduced thrombus formation, and an increase in tissue-type plasminogen activator release.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exhaust particle traps are a highly efficient method of reducing particle emissions from diesel engines. With a range of surrogate measures, the use of a particle trap prevents several adverse cardiovascular effects of exhaust inhalation in men. Given these beneficial effects on biomarkers of cardiovascular health, the widespread use of particle traps on diesel-powered vehicles may have substantial public health benefits and reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: University of Edinburgh, Royal Infirmary, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lucking
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lundbäck
authors.forename: Stefan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Barath
authors.forename: Nicholas L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: Manjit K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Sidhu
authors.forename: Jeremy P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Langrish
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Boon
authors.forename: Jamshid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pourazar
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Badimon
authors.forename: Miriam E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Gerlofs-Nijland
authors.forename: Flemming R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Cassee
authors.forename: Christoffer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boman
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Donaldson
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sandstrom
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Newby
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blomberg
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D001336:Automobiles; D001920:Bradykinin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010991:Plethysmography; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000633:toxicity*; D014700:Verapamil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D009599:Nitroprusside; D014700:Verapamil; D000109:Acetylcholine; D001920:Bradykinin