title: The relationship between traffic-related air pollutants and cardiac autonomic function in a panel of healthy adults: a further analysis with existing data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidemiological studies have linked particulate matter (PM) and carbon monoxide (CO) exposures with alterations in cardiac autonomic function as measured by heart rate variability (HRV) in populations. Recently, we reported association of several HRV indices with marked changes in particulate air pollution around the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in a panel of healthy adults.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We further investigated the cardiac effects of traffic-related air pollutants over wide exposure ranges with expanded data set in this panel of healthy adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  We obtained real-time data on nine taxi drivers' in-car exposures to PM ≤ 2.5 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM₂.₅) and CO and on multiple HRV indices during a separate daily work shift in four study periods with dramatically changing air pollution levels around the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Mixed effect models and a less smoother method were used to investigate the associations of exposures with HRV indices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed overall negative associations of traffic-related air pollutants with HRV indices across periods, as well as differences in period-specific and individual associations. After stratifying the individuals into two different response groups (positive/negative), cardiac effects of air pollutants became stronger within each group. Exposure-response modeling identified changed curvilinear relationships between air pollution exposures and HRV indices with threshold effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results support the association of exposure to traffic-related air pollution with altered cardiac autonomic function in young healthy adults free of cardiovascular compromises. These results suggest a complicated mechanism that traffic-related air pollutants influence the cardiovascular system of healthy adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shaowei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Furong
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Qinsheng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Youcheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xinbiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002681:China; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D052638:Particulate Matter; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D052638:Particulate Matter; D001335:Vehicle Emissions