title: Particle-associated organic compounds and symptoms in myocardial infarction survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aerosol components responsible for the adverse health effects of the exposure to particulate matter (PM) have not been conclusively identified, and there is especially little information on the role of particulate organic compounds (POC).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the role of PM and POC with regard to daily symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fifty-three myocardial infarction survivors from Augsburg, Germany, recorded daily occurrence of different symptoms in winter 2003/2004. Ambient concentrations of PM with a diameter <2.5 μm (PM(2.5)), particle number concentration (PNC), PM(2.5)-bound hopanes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were quantified. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations adjusting for meteorological and other time-variant confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The odds for avoidance of physically demanding activities due to heart problems increased immediately associated with most POC measures (e.g. 5% per 1.08 ng/m(3) increase in benzo[a]pyrene, 95%-confidence interval (CI):1-9%) and tended to a delayed decrease. After a 2-day delayed decrease associated with hopanes, the odds for shortness of breath increased consistently after 3 days with almost all POC measures (e.g. 4% per 0.21 ng/m(3) increase in 17α(H), 21β(H)-hopane, CI: 1-8%). The odds for heart palpitations marginally increased immediately in association with PNC (8% per 8146 cm(-3) increase in PNC, CI: 0-16%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study showed an association between PM, particle-bound POC, and daily symptoms. The organic compounds may be causally related with cardiovascular health or act rather as indicators for traffic- and combustion-related particles.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology II, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Breitner
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schnelle-Kreis
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cyrys
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lanki
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rückerl
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brüske
authors.forename: Jianwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Devlin
authors.forename: H-Erich
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Wichmann
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peters
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000139:chemically induced; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005221:Fatigue / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000633:toxicity; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000633:toxicity*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012621:Seasons; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants; D015415:Biomarkers; D052638:Particulate Matter; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014315:Triterpenes; C025206:hopane