title: Exposure to traffic pollution, acute inflammation and autonomic response in a panel of car commuters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exposure to traffic pollution has been linked to numerous adverse health endpoints. Despite this, limited data examining traffic exposures during realistic commutes and acute response exists.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We conducted the Atlanta Commuters Exposures (ACE-1) Study, an extensive panel-based exposure and health study, to measure chemically-resolved in-vehicle exposures and corresponding changes in acute oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, pulmonary and systemic inflammation and autonomic response.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 42 adults (21 with and 21 without asthma) to conduct two 2-h scripted highway commutes during morning rush hour in the metropolitan Atlanta area. A suite of in-vehicle particulate components were measured in the subjects' private vehicles. Biomarker measurements were conducted before, during, and immediately after the commutes and in 3 hourly intervals after commutes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At measurement time points within 3h after the commute, we observed mild to pronounced elevations relative to baseline in exhaled nitric oxide, C-reactive-protein, and exhaled malondialdehyde, indicative of pulmonary and systemic inflammation and oxidative stress initiation, as well as decreases relative to baseline levels in the time-domain heart-rate variability parameters, SDNN and rMSSD, indicative of autonomic dysfunction. We did not observe any detectable changes in lung function measurements (FEV1, FVC), the frequency-domain heart-rate variability parameter or other systemic biomarkers of vascular injury. Water soluble organic carbon was associated with changes in eNO at all post-commute time-points (p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results point to measureable changes in pulmonary and autonomic biomarkers following a scripted 2-h highway commute.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health-Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. Electronic address: jsarnat@sph.emory.edu.
authors.forename: Jeremy A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sarnat
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health-Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Golan
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health-Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Roby
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Greenwald
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health-Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Amit U
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Raysoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health-Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kewada
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health-Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Winquist
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health-Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Stefanie E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Sarnat
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health-Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dana Flanders
authors.affiliation: Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mirabelli
authors.affiliation: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Zora
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Bergin
authors.affiliation: Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Fuyuen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yip
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D001336:Automobiles; D017776:Autonomic Pathways / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000506:poisoning*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000506:poisoning; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000506:poisoning*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D052638:Particulate Matter; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
keywords: Asthma; Car commute; Exhaled nitric oxide; Heart rate variability