Associations between Personal Exposure to Metals in Fine Particulate Matter and Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction among Healthy Adults

Yi-Hsueh Liao ； Wei-Liang Chen ； Chung-Ching Wang ； Ching-Huang Lai

《Aerosol and Air Quality Research》 20卷8期 (2020/08) Pp. 1842-1849

https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2020.04.0156

摘要

The impact of airborne particulate matter and its metal components on autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction in healthy subjects remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of personal exposure to airborne particulate matter on the ANS in young, healthy adults. This longitudinal study recruited 82 adults aged 20 to 35 years from districts A and B. District A had lower ambient PM_(2.5) levels than district B. Personal exposure to fine particulate matter and metals in PM_(2.5) was collected every two months. The heart rate variability (HRV) indices of each participant were measured three times. The relationship among the PM_(2.5) concentration, metals in PM_(2.5) and HRV level was investigated by a generalized estimating equation with an autoregression of order 1. The average age of the participants was 26.4 ± 3.6 years in district A and 21.9 ± 1.5 years in district B (p ＜ 0.001). After adjusting for covariables, significant changes in Log_(10) standard deviation of normal to normal (SDNN) intervals and Log_(10) square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences (r-MSSDs) were related to unit changes in Log_(10) iron in PM_(2.5) (β = -0.033, 95% CI = -0.060 to -0.0056, p ＜ 0.05 and β = -0.041, 95% CI = -0.075 to -0.0076, p ＜ 0.05, respectively). The Log_(10) SDNN levels were significantly positively related to Log_(10) gallium in PM_(2.5) (β = 0.054, 95% CI = 0.0064 to 0.10, p ＜ 0.05). Exposure to heavy metals in airborne particulate matter was associated with ANS dysfunction.

關鍵字

Particulate matter ； Metals ； Autonomic nervous system