A community study of the effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites on heart rate variability based on the Framingham risk score

Abstract

Objectives To investigate the effects of the urinary metabolite profiles of background exposure to the atmospheric pollutants polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and Framingham risk score (FRS), which assesses an individual’s cardiovascular disease risk, on heart rate variability (HRV). Methods The study, conducted from April to May 2011 in Wuhan, China, included 1,978 adult residents with completed questionnaires, physical examinations, blood and urine samples, and 5-min HRV indices [including standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN), root mean square successive difference (rMSSD), low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF) and their ratio (LF/HF), and total power (TP)] obtained from 3-channel Holter monitor. 12 urinary PAH metabolites were measured by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. FRS was calculated based on age, sex, lipid profiles, blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking status. Linear regression models were constructed after adjusting for potential confounders. Results Elevated ΣOHNa was significantly associated, in a dose-responsive manner, with decreased SDNN and LF/HF (Ptrend = 0.014 and 0.007, respectively); elevated ΣOHFlu was significantly associated with reduced SDNN, LF, and LF/HF (Ptrend = 0.027, 0.003, and < 0.0001, respectively); and elevated ΣOH-PAHs was associated with decreased LF and LF/HF (Ptrend = 0.005 and < 0.0001, respectively). Moreover, increasing quartiles of FRS were significantly associated with decreased HRV indices, except LF/HF (Ptrend <0.001). Interestingly, individuals in low-risk subgroups had greater decreases in SDNN, LF, and LF/HF in relation to ΣOH-PAHs, ΣOHNa, and ΣOHFlu than those in high-risk subgroups (all P <0.05). Conclusions Environmental PAHs exposure may differentially affect HRV based on individual coronary risk profiles.

Framingham risk score modifies the effect of PM10 on heart rate variability

“…We can speculate that a clustering of CAD risk factors might attenuate or mask the effect of PM on HRV in relatively highrisk individuals. This finding is supported by recent study from our lab, based on larger community population, and showed a similar finding, a pronounced effect of PAH exposure on HRV in the CAD low-risk subgroups, not in high-risk subgroups (Feng et al, 2014).…”

Urinary metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Saudi Arabian schoolchildren in relation to sources of exposure

“…Consequently the European Food Safety Authority has made a detailed assessment of human exposure from dietary sources (EFSA, 2008). In addition to the cancer risk, PAH exposure has been linked to the onset of diabetes mellitus (Yang et al 2014;Alshaarawy, et al 2014), metabolic syndrome (Brocato et al 2014;Hu et al 2015), and cardiovascular conditions (Xu et al 2010;Feng et al 2014). Since all exposure sources can contribute to the body burden of PAH, quantitative evaluation of exposure pathways is important if health risk is to be minimised.…”

Expression levels of circulating microRNAs‐126, ‐155, and ‐145 in Mexican women exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons through biomass fuel use

“…Also, PAHs are able to induce DNA damage in exposed humans (Torres‐Dosal et al, ; Jasso‐Pineda et al, ; Ledda et al, ). Of interest for the present study is the fact that recent research suggests exposure to PAHs could be an additional risk factor for impaired vascular health and atherogenic processes, which are events that gradually lead to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) (Brucker et al, ; Xu et al, ; Brucker et al, ; Feng et al, ; Deng et al, ; Ruiz‐Vera et al, ; Pruneda‐Alvarez et al, ; Ochoa‐Martinez et al, ).…”