title: The effects of exposure to environmental factors on Heart Rate Variability: an ecological perspective.
abstract: The impact of human exposure to environmental factors on Heart Rate Variability (HRV) was examined in the urban space of Tel-Aviv-Jaffa. Four environmental factors were investigated: thermal and social loads; CO concentrations and noise. Levels of HRV are explained mainly by subjective social stresses, noise and CO. The most interesting result is the fact that while subjective social stress and noise increase HRV, low levels of CO are reducing HRV to some extent moderating the impact of subjective social stress and noise. Beyond the poisoning effect of CO and the fact that extremely low levels of HRV associated with high dozes of CO increase risk for life, low levels of CO may have a narcotic effect, as it is measured by HRV. The effects of thermal loads on HRV are negligible probably due to the use of behavioral means in order to neutralize heat and cold effects.
authors.affiliation: Geography and Human Environment Department, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Izhak
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schnell
authors.forename: Oded
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Potchter
authors.forename: Yoram
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.forename: Yaron
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yaakov
authors.forename: Hagai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hermesh
authors.forename: Shmuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brenner
authors.forename: Emanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tirosh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis; D002947:Cities; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002248:Carbon Monoxide
keywords: Environmental discomfort; Environmental stressors; Heart Rate Variability; Personal exposure