Vapourized hydrogen peroxide decontamination in a hospital setting inactivates SARS-CoV-2 and HCoV-229E without compromising filtration efficiency of unexpired N95 respirators.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for evidence-based approaches to decontamination and reuse of N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs). We sought to determine whether vapourized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) reduced SARS-CoV-2 bioburden on FFRs without compromising filtration efficiency. We also investigated coronavirus HCoV-229E as a surrogate for decontamination validation testing.

Air Pollution, Physical Activity, and Cardiovascular Function of Patients With Implanted Cardioverter Defibrillators: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Indoor Versus Outdoor Activity.

Objective: To investigate whether implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) patients exercising indoors on higher air pollution (AP) days had reduced adverse cardiovascular effects compared with those exercising outdoors.

Methods: Eighteen participants were randomly divided into control or intervention groups. Blood pressure (BP), pulse rate (PR), and oxygen saturation (O2SAT) were measured daily before and after participants walked outdoors for 30 minutes.

Metals and oxidative potential in urban particulate matter influence systemic inflammatory and neural biomarkers: A controlled exposure study.

Background: Oxidative stress and inflammation are considered to be important pathways leading to particulate matter (PM)-associated disease. In this exploratory study, we examined the effects of metals and oxidative potential (OP) in urban PM on biomarkers of systemic inflammation, oxidative stress and neural function.

Methods: Fifty-three healthy non-smoking volunteers (mean age 28 years, twenty-eight females) were exposed to coarse (2.

B-vitamin Supplementation Mitigates Effects of Fine Particles on Cardiac Autonomic Dysfunction and Inflammation: A Pilot Human Intervention Trial.

Ambient fine particle (PM) pollution triggers acute cardiovascular events. Individual-level preventions are proposed to complement regulation in reducing the global burden of PM-induced cardiovascular diseases. We determine whether B vitamin supplementation mitigates PM effects on cardiac autonomic dysfunction and inflammation in a single-blind placebo-controlled crossover pilot trial.

B vitamins attenuate the epigenetic effects of ambient fine particles in a pilot human intervention trial.

Acute exposure to fine particle (PM) induces DNA methylation changes implicated in inflammation and oxidative stress. We conducted a crossover trial to determine whether B-vitamin supplementation averts such changes. Ten healthy adults blindly received a 2-h, controlled-exposure experiment to sham under placebo, PM (250 μg/m) under placebo, and PM (250 μg/m) under B-vitamin supplementation (2.

Influence of exposure to coarse, fine and ultrafine urban particulate matter and their biological constituents on neural biomarkers in a randomized controlled crossover study.

Background: Epidemiological studies have reported associations between air pollution and neuro-psychological conditions. Biological mechanisms behind these findings are still not clear.

Objectives: We examined changes in blood and urinary neural biomarkers following exposure to concentrated ambient coarse, fine and ultrafine particles.

Effects of urban fine particulate matter and ozone on HDL functionality.

Background: Exposures to ambient particulate matter (PM) are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. PM2.5 (<2.

Characterization of the bacterial and fungal microbiome in indoor dust and outdoor air samples: a pilot study.

Environmental microbes have been associated with both protective and adverse health effects in children and adults. Epidemiological studies often rely on broad biomarkers of microbial exposure (i.e.

Endotoxin and β-1,3-d-Glucan in Concentrated Ambient Particles Induce Rapid Increase in Blood Pressure in Controlled Human Exposures.

Short-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) is associated with increased blood pressure (BP) in epidemiological studies. Understanding the impact of specific PM components on BP is essential in developing effective risk-reduction strategies. We investigated the association between endotoxin and β-1,3-d-Glucan-two major biological PM components-and BP.

Effects of ambient coarse, fine, and ultrafine particles and their biological constituents on systemic biomarkers: a controlled human exposure study.

Background: Ambient coarse, fine, and ultrafine particles have been associated with mortality and morbidity. Few studies have compared how various particle size fractions affect systemic biomarkers.

Objectives: We examined changes of blood and urinary biomarkers following exposures to three particle sizes.

Endotoxin in concentrated coarse and fine ambient particles induces acute systemic inflammation in controlled human exposures.

Background: Knowledge of the inhalable particulate matter components responsible for health effects is important for developing targeted regulation.

Objectives: In a double-blind randomised cross-over trial of controlled human exposures to concentrated ambient particles (CAPs) and their endotoxin and (1→3)-β-D-glucan components, we evaluated acute inflammatory responses.

Methods: 35 healthy adults were exposed to five 130-min exposures at rest: (1) fine CAPs (~250 µg/m(3)); (2) coarse CAPs (200 µg/m(3)); (3) second coarse CAPs (~200 µg/m(3)); (4) filtered air; and (5) medical air.

DNA hypomethylation, ambient particulate matter, and increased blood pressure: findings from controlled human exposure experiments.

Background: Short-term exposures to fine (<2.5 μm aerodynamic diameter) ambient particulate-matter (PM) have been related with increased blood pressure (BP) in controlled-human exposure and community-based studies. However, whether coarse (2.

Controlled exposure study of air pollution and T-wave alternans in volunteers without cardiovascular disease.

Background: Epidemiological studies have assessed T-wave alternans (TWA) as a possible mechanism of cardiac arrhythmias related to air pollution in high-risk subjects and have reported associations with increased TWA magnitude.

Objective: In this controlled human exposure study, we assessed the impact of exposure to concentrated ambient particulate matter (CAP) and ozone (O3) on T-wave alternans in resting volunteers without preexisting cardiovascular disease.

Methods: Seventeen participants without preexisting cardiovascular disease were randomized to filtered air (FA), CAP (150 μg/m3), O3 (120 ppb), or combined CAP + O3 exposures for 2 hr.

The effect of air pollution on spatial dispersion of myocardial repolarization in healthy human volunteers.

Objectives: We tested the hypothesis that exposure to concentrated ambient particles (CAP) and/or ozone (O(3)) would increase dispersion of ventricular repolarization.

Background: Elevated levels of air pollution are associated with cardiac arrhythmias through mechanisms yet to be elucidated.

Methods: Each of 25 volunteers (18 to 50 years of age) had four 2-h exposures to 150 μg/m(3) CAP; 120 parts per billion O(3); CAP + O(3); and filtered air (FA).

Concentrated ambient fine particles and not ozone induce a systemic interleukin-6 response in humans.

Epidemiological studies have established significant associations between ambient pollutants, including fine particulate matter (PM(2.5)) and ozone (O(3)), and cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality. One mechanism that has been proposed is a pulmonary/systemic inflammatory response.

Baseline repeated measures from controlled human exposure studies: associations between ambient air pollution exposure and the systemic inflammatory biomarkers IL-6 and fibrinogen.

Introduction: Systemic inflammation may be one of the mechanisms mediating the association between ambient air pollution and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and fibrinogen are biomarkers of systemic inflammation that are independent risk factors for cardio-vascular disease.

Objective: We investigated the association between ambient air pollution and systemic inflammation using baseline measurements of IL-6 and fibrinogen from controlled human exposure studies.

Insights into the mechanisms and mediators of the effects of air pollution exposure on blood pressure and vascular function in healthy humans.

Fine particulate matter air pollution plus ozone impairs vascular function and raises diastolic blood pressure. We aimed to determine the mechanism and air pollutant responsible. The effects of pollution on heart rate variability, blood pressure, biomarkers, and brachial flow-mediated dilatation were determined in 2 randomized, double-blind, crossover studies.