nitrogen-dioxide and Chest-Pain

We evaluated the effect of chronic exposure to air pollutants (APs) on coronary endothelial function and significant coronary artery spasm (CAS) as assessed by intracoronary acetylcholine (ACH) provocation test.. A total of 6430 patients with typical or atypical chest pain who underwent intracoronary ACH provocation test were enrolled. We obtained data on APs from the Korean National Institute of Environmental Research (http://www.nier.go.kr/). APs are largely divided into two types: particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter of less than or equal to 10 µm in size (PM10) and gaseous pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone. The primary endpoint is the incidence of significant CAS and its associated parameters during ACH provocation test.. The incidence of CAS was positively correlated with an exposure duration of PM10, whereas nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone were shown to be unrelated to CAS. During the ACH provocation test, as PM10 increased, the frequency of CAS was increased, and the incidence of transient ST-segment elevation was also increased. There was a trend toward higher incidence of spontaneous spasm as PM10 increased. The mean exposure level of PM10 was 51.3±25.4 µg/m. The CAS risk increased by 4% when the level of PM10 increased by 20 µg/m by an adjusted Cox regression analysis.. CAS incidence is closely related to exposure to PMs but not to gaseous pollutants. Particularly, higher exposure concentrations and longer exposure duration of PM10 increased the risk of CAS. These important findings provide a plausible mechanism that links air pollution to vasospastic angina and provide new insights into environmental factors.

Topics: Acetylcholine; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Air Pollutants; Angina Pectoris, Variant; Carbon Monoxide; Chest Pain; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Vasospasm; Coronary Vessels; Endothelium, Vascular; Environmental Exposure; Female; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Nitrogen Dioxide; Ozone; Particle Size; Particulate Matter; Republic of Korea; Sulfur Dioxide; Young Adult

Topics: Adult; Air Pollution, Indoor; Chest Pain; Cough; Diagnosis, Differential; Dyspnea; Hemoptysis; Hockey; Humans; Inhalation Exposure; Lung Injury; Male; Nitrogen Dioxide; Time Factors; Young Adult

To identify characteristics associated with respiratory symptoms due to an episode of air pollution.. Mail survey.. In October 1992, the population of the city of Winnipeg was exposed to elevated levels of particulate matter (total and <10 microm size), carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and volatile organic compounds due to smoke from adjacent fields where farmers were burning agricultural residue (straw and stubble).. We surveyed 428 participants in the ongoing Lung Health Study (35 to 64 years old, both sexes) with mild to moderate airways obstruction (mean FEV1 percent predicted 73+/-12%), and a high level of airways hyperreactivity (23% of men and 37% of women).. While 37% of subjects were not bothered by smoke at all, 42% reported that symptoms (cough, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath) developed or became worse due to the air pollution episode and 20% reported that they had breathing trouble. Those with symptoms were more likely to be female than male and were more likely to be ex-smokers than smokers. Subjects with asthma and chronic bronchitis were also more likely affected. The degree of airways obstruction and the level of bronchial hyperresponsiveness were not associated with increased susceptibility.. Gender, smoking habit, and respiratory symptoms but not bronchial hyperresponsiveness or the degree of airways obstruction are factors influencing susceptibility to symptoms due to air pollution in adult smokers and former smokers.

Topics: Adult; Agriculture; Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Airway Obstruction; Asthma; Bronchial Hyperreactivity; Bronchitis; Carbon Monoxide; Chest Pain; Chronic Disease; Cough; Disease Susceptibility; Dyspnea; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; Male; Manitoba; Middle Aged; Nitrogen Dioxide; Organic Chemicals; Respiration; Respiratory Sounds; Sex Factors; Smoke; Smoking