Cache Valley Resident Exposure to PM2.5 and its Effects on Heart Rate Variability
Class
Article
Graduation Year
2017
College
College of Science
Department
Biology Department
Faculty Mentor
Michael Lefevre
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
The World Health Organization has estimated 3 million deaths attributed to outdoor air pollution exposure, most notably to ambient particulate matter smaller than 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5). While long-term exposure to PM2.5 has adverse effects, evidence has indicated that short-term exposures to moderate concentrations of PM2.5 are also detrimental to human health. In addition to effects on lung function, PM2.5 also affects the cardiovascular system, contributing to increased incidence of cardiovascular disease, congestive heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias. Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) is a risk factor associated with cardiac morbidity and mortality and thus is an appropriate measure for the cardiovascular effects of PM2.5 on individuals. The main purpose of this study is to determine how differences in PM2.5 exposure levels correlate to changes in HRV for residents of Cache Valley. In addition to this component, we also aim to compare the personal hourly average PM2.5 exposure levels to the average published concentrations for the area. We hypothesize that 1) HRV will decline following modest (μg/m3) increases in PM2.5 concentrations and 2) personal exposure levels will be poorly correlated with the published hourly ambient PM2.5 concentrations. Volunteers will wear the AirBeam personal environment monitor, a device used to measure individual PM2.5 exposure, for an 8-10 hour period. A subset of these individuals will additionally wear the BioHarness 3, an apparatus that measures HRV. This study will be performed in March, and data obtained from the devices will be subsequently analyzed to assess the PM2.5 exposure levels and their temporal correlation with HRV.
Location
South Atrium
Start Date
4-13-2017 1:30 PM
End Date
4-13-2017 2:45 PM
Cache Valley Resident Exposure to PM2.5 and its Effects on Heart Rate Variability
South Atrium
The World Health Organization has estimated 3 million deaths attributed to outdoor air pollution exposure, most notably to ambient particulate matter smaller than 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5). While long-term exposure to PM2.5 has adverse effects, evidence has indicated that short-term exposures to moderate concentrations of PM2.5 are also detrimental to human health. In addition to effects on lung function, PM2.5 also affects the cardiovascular system, contributing to increased incidence of cardiovascular disease, congestive heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias. Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) is a risk factor associated with cardiac morbidity and mortality and thus is an appropriate measure for the cardiovascular effects of PM2.5 on individuals. The main purpose of this study is to determine how differences in PM2.5 exposure levels correlate to changes in HRV for residents of Cache Valley. In addition to this component, we also aim to compare the personal hourly average PM2.5 exposure levels to the average published concentrations for the area. We hypothesize that 1) HRV will decline following modest (μg/m3) increases in PM2.5 concentrations and 2) personal exposure levels will be poorly correlated with the published hourly ambient PM2.5 concentrations. Volunteers will wear the AirBeam personal environment monitor, a device used to measure individual PM2.5 exposure, for an 8-10 hour period. A subset of these individuals will additionally wear the BioHarness 3, an apparatus that measures HRV. This study will be performed in March, and data obtained from the devices will be subsequently analyzed to assess the PM2.5 exposure levels and their temporal correlation with HRV.