Impact of personally measured pollutants on cardiac function.
Epidemiological studies have shown associations between ambient air pollution and changes in heart rate variability (HRV). However, studies using personal air pollution measurements, especially with exposure averages <24h, are still rare. Between February and March 2008 HRV data as well as personal exposure to particulate matter <2.5μm (PM2.5), and particle number concentrations (PNC) were collected in five volunteers for up to 8.3h on a 5min resolution. Information about the participant's whereabouts was also collected. Mixed models were used to analyze concurrent and up to 30min delayed effects of air pollutants as well as being in traffic on 5min-averages of heart rate (HR), high and low frequency power (HF and LF), standard deviation of all normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN), and the root mean square of successive interval differences (RMSSD). Results are presented as %-change from the mean per increase in interquartile range of air pollutant. In total, 474 5-min segments were available for analysis. We observed concurrent and delayed reductions in SDNN of about 0.8-1.0% in association with a 5.4μg/m(3) increase in PM2.5. However, being in traffic by car led to an increase of about 20% 10-14min and 15-19min later. An increase in PM2.5 or PNC was associated with lagged decreases for RMSSD and HF. We detected concurrent reductions in RMSSD (-17.6% [95%-confidence interval: 29.1; -4.3]) when being in traffic by bike/foot. Being in traffic by car was associated with an immediate reduction in LF while more delayed increases in LF were observed when being in traffic by bike/foot. Air pollution and traffic effects on HR were less consistent. These rapid changes in HRV within 30min might be mediated by the autonomic nervous system in response to direct reflexes from receptors in the lungs.
Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Epidemiology II, Neuherberg, Germany. Electronic address: regina.hampel@helmholtz-muenchen.de.
Regina
R
Hampel
Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Epidemiology II, Neuherberg, Germany.
Regina
R
Rückerl
Environmental Epidemiology Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Kuopio, Finland.
Tarja
T
Yli-Tuomi
Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Epidemiology II, Neuherberg, Germany; Institute of Medical Informatics, Biometrics and Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Susanne
S
Breitner
Environmental Epidemiology Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Kuopio, Finland.
Timo
T
Lanki
Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Epidemiology II, Neuherberg, Germany; Institute of Medical Informatics, Biometrics and Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Ute
U
Kraus
Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Epidemiology II, Neuherberg, Germany; ESC - Environmental Science Center, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany.
Josef
J
Cyrys
Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Epidemiology II, Neuherberg, Germany; Max-Planck-Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany.
Petra
P
Belcredi
Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Epidemiology I, Neuherberg, Germany.
Irene
I
Brüske
Kuopio University Hospital, Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Kuopio, Finland.
Tiina M
TM
Laitinen
Central Hospital of Central Finland, Department of Clinical Physiology, Jyväskylä, Finland.
Kirsi
K
Timonen
Institute of Medical Informatics, Biometrics and Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany; Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Epidemiology I, Neuherberg, Germany.
H-Erich
HE
Wichmann
Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Epidemiology II, Neuherberg, Germany.
Annette
A
Peters
Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Epidemiology II, Neuherberg, Germany.
Alexandra
A
Schneider
D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
D000393:Air Pollutants
Epidemiology; Heart rate variability; Personal air pollution measurements; Traffic; Ultrafine particles