Acute Impact of Fine Particulate Air Pollution on Cardiac Arrhythmias in a Population-Based Sample of Adolescents: The Penn State Child Cohort

Background Fine particulate (fine particles with aerodynamic diameters <= 2.5 mu m [PM2.5]) exposure has been associated with a risk of cardiac arrhythmias in adults. However, the association between PM2.5 exposure and cardiac arrhythmias in adolescents remains unclear. Methods and Results To investigate the association and time course between PM2.5 exposure with cardiac arrhythmias in adolescents, we analyzed the data collected from 322 adolescents who participated in the PSCC (Penn State Child Cohort) follow-up examination. We obtained individual-level 24-hour PM2.5 concentrations with a nephelometer. Concurrent with the PM2.5 measure, we obtained 24-hour ECG data using a Holter monitor, from which cardiac arrhythmias, including premature atrial contractions and premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), were identified. PM2.5 concentration and numbers of premature atrial contractions/PVCs were summarized into 30-minute-based segments. Polynomial distributed lag models within a framework of a negative binomial model were used to assess the effect of PM2.5 concentration on numbers of premature atrial contractions and PVCs. PM2.5 exposure was associated with an acute increase in number of PVCs. Specifically, a 10 mu g/m(3) increase in PM2.5 concentration was associated with a 2% (95% CI, 0.4%-3.3%) increase in PVC counts 0.5 to 1.0, 1.0 to 1.5, and 1.5 to 2.0 hours after the exposure. Cumulatively, a 10 mu g/m(3) increment in PM2.5 was associated with a 5% (95% CI, 1%-10%) increase in PVC counts within 2 hours after exposure. PM2.5 concentration was not associated with premature atrial contraction. Conclusions PM2.5 exposure was associated with an acute increased number of ventricular arrhythmias in a population-based sample of adolescents. The time course of the effect of PM2.5 on ventricular arrhythmia is within 2 hours after exposure.

Automated summary

This study found that PM2.5 exposure is associated with an increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias in adolescents, particularly an acute increase in premature ventricular contractions. The effect of PM2.5 on ventricular arrhythmias occurs within 2 hours after exposure.