US EPA

712765 

Journal Article 

The relationship between traffic-related air pollutants and cardiac autonomic function in a panel of healthy adults: A further analysis with existing data 

Wu, S; Deng, F; Niu, J; Huang, Q; Liu, Y; Guo, X 

2011 

Yes 

Inhalation Toxicology
ISSN: 0895-8378
EISSN: 1091-7691 

23 

5 

289-303 

English 

21506879 

10.3109/08958378.2011.568976 

WOS:000289797700005 

Context: Epidemiological studies have linked particulate matter (PM) and carbon monoxide (CO) exposures with alterations in cardiac autonomic function as measured by heart rate variability (HRV) in populations. Recently, we reported association of several HRV indices with marked changes in particulate air pollution around the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in a panel of healthy adults. Objective: We further investigated the cardiac effects of traffic-related air pollutants over wide exposure ranges with expanded data set in this panel of healthy adults. Methods: We obtained real-time data on nine taxi drivers' in-car exposures to PM ≤2.5 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM(2.5)) and CO and on multiple HRV indices during a separate daily work shift in four study periods with dramatically changing air pollution levels around the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Mixed effect models and a loess smoother method were used to investigate the associations of exposures with HRV indices. Results: Results showed overall negative associations of traffic-related air pollutants with HRV indices across periods, as well as differences in period-specific and individual associations. After stratifying the individuals into two different response groups (positive/negative), cardiac effects of air pollutants became stronger within each group. Exposure-response modeling identified changed curvilinear relationships between air pollution exposures and HRV indices with threshold effects. Discussion and conclusion: Our results support the association of exposure to traffic-related air pollution with altered cardiac autonomic function in young healthy adults free of cardiovascular compromises. These results suggest a complicated mechanism that traffic-related air pollutants influence the cardiovascular system of healthy adults. 

Air pollution; carbon monoxide; cardiac autonomic function; heart rate variability; panel study; particulate matter