Metal Composition of Fine Particulate Air Pollution and Acute Changes in Cardiorespiratory Physiology

Background: Studying the physiologic effects of components of fine particulate mass (PM2.5) could contribute to a better understanding of the nature of toxicity of air pollution.

Objectives: We examined the relation between acute changes in cardiovascular and respiratory function, and PM2.5-associated-metals.

Methods: Using generalized linear mixed models, daily changes in ambient PM2.5-associated metals were compared to daily changes in physiologic measures in 59 healthy subjects who spent 5-days near a steel plant and 5-days on a college campus.

Results: Interquartile increases in calcium, cadmium, lead, strontium, tin, vanadium and zinc were associated with statistically significant increases in heart rate of 1-3 beats per minute, increases of 1-3 mmHg in blood pressure and/or lung function decreases of up to 4% for total lung capacity.

Conclusion: Metals contained in PM2.5 were found to be associated with acute changes in cardiovascular and respiratory physiology.