Particulate and gaseous pollutants on inflammation, thrombosis, and autonomic imbalance in subjects at risk for cardiovascular disease.
This study examined effects of short-term urban air pollution exposures on inflammation, thrombosis, and autonomic imbalance in subjects at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We enrolled 61 patients with multiple CVD risk factors and measured high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fibrinogen, D-dimer, and heart rate variability (HRV) indices. Two health examinations for each participant were performed during December 2002 through September 2003. Changes in inflammation and thrombotic markers and HRV indices with exposures to PM2.5, organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) at 1- to 3-day lags were analyzed using mixed models. The results showed inflammatory and thrombotic markers increased with 1- to 3-day lagged PM2.5components and gaseous pollutants exposures. hs-CRP maximally increased 0.19 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.07-0.31] and 0.15 (95% CI: 0.05-0.24) mg/L for an interquartile range (IQR) of 1-day lagged SO2(2.3 ppb) and CO (0.5 ppm), respectively. D-dimer maximally increased 1.05 (95% CI: 0.13-1.75), 0.72 (95% CI: 0.09-1.21), 0.92 (95% CI: 0.13-1.50), and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.07-1.61) mg/dL for an IQR of 1-day lagged OC (3.9 μg/m3), EC (2.0 μg/m3), SO2, and NO2(13.4 ppb), respectively. The HRV indices, including low frequency, very low frequency, and the ratio of low frequency to high frequency decreased 19.8 (95% CI: 4.4-32.7), 12.9 (95% CI: 0.8-23.4), and 17.6 (95% CI: 5.4-28.2)% for an IQR of 1-day lagged PM2.5(20.2 μg/m3), respectively. Our findings demonstrated PM2.5components and gaseous pollutants exert prolonged inflammatory and thrombotic reactions, while PM2.5exert an immediate autonomic imbalance.
Division of Surgical Intensive Care, Department of Critical Care Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Szu-Ying
SY
Chen
Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chang-Chuan
CC
Chan
Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: tachensu@ntu.edu.tw.
Ta-Chen
TC
Su
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D002244:Carbon / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D013624:Taiwan; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism
D000393:Air Pollutants; D015415:Biomarkers; D052638:Particulate Matter; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D002244:Carbon; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide
Air pollution; Cardiovascular disease; Heart rate variability; Inflammation; Particulate matter; Thrombosis