AI Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the impact of short-term indoor exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on the physiological and cognitive responses of working-age adults in an urban office environment.* -
- Participants exposed to lower PM2.5 levels (3.7 μg/m3) showed significantly better heart rate variability (HRV) during cognitive tasks compared to those in a higher exposure condition (18.0 μg/m3), indicating a link between air quality and cognitive function.* -
- Findings suggest that reduced indoor PM2.5 exposure leads to lower perceived mental effort and improved HRV, with potential mechanisms involving the autonomic nervous system affecting executive functioning and overall cognitive performance.*
Article Abstract
Background: Long-term effects of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure on mortality and morbidity are well established. The study aims to evaluate how short-term indoor PM2.5 exposure affects physiological responses and understand potential mechanisms mediating the cognitive outcomes in working-age adults.
Methods: This real-world randomized single-blind crossover intervention study was conducted in an urban office setting, with desk-based air purifiers used as the intervention. Participants (N = 40) were exposed to average PM2.5 levels of 18.0 μg/m3 in control and 3.7 μg/m3 in intervention conditions. Cognitive tests, heart rate variability (HRV), and electrodermal activity (EDA) measures were conducted after 5 h of exposure. Self-reported mental effort, exhaustion, and task difficulty were collected after the cognitive tests.
Results: Participants in the intervention condition had significantly higher HRV during cognitive testing, particularly in the standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), and high-frequency power (HF) indices. Mediation analysis revealed that elevated PM2.5 exposure reduced HRV indices, which mediated the effect on two executive function-related cognitive skills out of 16 assessed skills. No significant differences were found in EDA, self-reported task difficulty, or exhaustion, but self-reported mental effort was higher in the control condition.
Conclusions: Lower indoor PM2.5 level was associated with reduced mental effort and higher HRV during cognitive testing. Furthermore, the association between indoor PM2.5 exposure and executive function might be mediated through cardiovagal responses. These findings provide insights on the mechanisms through which fine particle exposure adversely affects the autonomic nervous system and how this in turn affects cognition. The potential cardiovascular and cognitive health benefits of PM2.5 reduction warrants further research.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2024.120245 | DOI Listing |
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