Association of silent ST-segment depression on one-hour ambulatory ECGs with exposure to industrial noise among blue-collar workers in Israel examined at different levels of ambient temperature--the CORDIS Study.

Background: Epidemiologic studies on the effects of ambient temperature or industrial noise on the cardiovascular system have usually focused on blood pressure. However, the ambulatory ECG may be a sensitive instrument for evaluating transient changes in the myocardium associated with exposure to such environmental stressors. In particular, the presence of silent ST-segment depression would strongly suggest transient myocardial ischemia.