Heart rate variability hemostatic and acute infla

Authors: E Scharrer H Hessel A Kronseder W Guth B Rolinski R A Jörres K Radon R Schierl P Angerer D Nowak

Publish Date: 2006/06/22

Volume: 80, Issue: 4, Pages: 265-272

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Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate whether shortterm experimental exposure to high levels of welding fumes would be capable of exerting acute effects in healthy subjects Specifically we assessed cardiovascular function in terms of heart rate variability HRV as well as the concentrations of inflammatory mediators and hemostatic proteins in blood as outcome measures Twenty subjects without a history of airway and cardiovascular diseases were exposed to either control air or welding fume for 1 h on 2 separate days under standardized conditions The median concentration of the alveolar particle fraction during welding was 35 mg/m3 quartiles 14–63 mg/m3 range 10–253 mg/m3 Five hours later a panel of clinical assessments was performed including HRV measurement and drawing of blood samples There were no changes in symptom ratings or lung function after welding fume exposure Exposures did also not differ regarding effects on time and frequencydomain parameters of HRV Similarly blood leukocyte numbers cell differentials and the blood levels of fibrinogen Creactive protein antithrombin III factor VIII von Willebrand factor ristocetin cofactor sICAM1 tumor necrosis factor alpha interleukin 6 interleukin 8 and epithelial neutrophil activating peptide 78 were not altered by welding fume inhalation However there was a significant fall in the level of endothelin1 P  001 In conclusion the data did not indicate effects of clinical significance of a shortterm highlevel exposure to welding fumes on HRV or a set of blood hemostatic and acute inflammatory parameters in healthy subjects The small but statistically significant effect on endothelin levels demonstrated that measurable effects could be elicited even in these individuals Overall welding fumes are not likely to exert acute cardiovascular effects in healthy individualsWe gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of all study subjects and the Schweißtechnische Lehr und Versuchsanstalt München—especially the director Prof Böhme—for providing us with the opportunity of performing standardized controlled exposures We also thank Prof Schmidt German Heart Center and 1st Medical Clinic of the Technical University Munich for his support in the analysis of heart rate variability Supported by the Lieselotte und Dr KarlOtto WinklerStiftung für Arbeitsmedizin

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