title: An indoor air filtration study in homes of elderly: cardiovascular and respiratory effects of exposure to particulate matter.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exposure to particulate air pollution increases respiratory and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, especially in elderly, possibly through inflammation and vascular dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined potential beneficial effects of indoor air filtration in the homes of elderly, including people taking vasoactive drugs.Forty-eight nonsmoking subjects (51 to 81 years) in 27 homes were included in this randomized, double-blind, crossover intervention study with consecutive two-week periods with or without the inclusion of a high-efficiency particle air filter in re-circulating custom built units in their living room and bedroom. We measured blood pressure, microvascular and lung function and collected blood samples for hematological, inflammation, monocyte surface and lung cell damage markers before and at day 2, 7 and 14 during each exposure scenario.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The particle filters reduced the median concentration of PM2.5 from approximately 8 to 4 μg/m3 and the particle number concentration from 7669 to 5352 particles/cm3. No statistically significant effects of filtration as category were observed on microvascular and lung function or the biomarkers of systemic inflammation among all subjects, or in the subgroups taking (n = 11) or not taking vasoactive drugs (n = 37). However, the filtration efficacy was variable and microvascular function was within 2 days significantly increased with the actual PM2.5 decrease in the bedroom, especially among 25 subjects not taking any drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Substantial exposure contrasts in the bedroom and no confounding by drugs appear required for improved microvascular function by air filtration, whereas no other beneficial effect was found in this elderly population.
authors.forename: Dorina Gabriela
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Karottki
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spilak
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frederiksen
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gunnarsen
authors.forename: Elvira Vaclavik
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Brauner
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kolarik
authors.forename: Zorana Jovanovic
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Torben
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sigsgaard
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barregard
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Strandberg
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sallsten
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.affiliation: Section of Environmental Health, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Farimagsgade 5A K, DK-1014 Copenhagen, Denmark. stl@sund.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loft
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002947:Cities; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003718:Denmark; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005374:Filtration; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D015415:Biomarkers; D052638:Particulate Matter