NO2 can disturb cardiac autonomic function in coronary heart disease (CHD)-susceptible patients reports a recent European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (EJCPR) article; Association between nitrogen dioxide and heart rate variability in susceptible population.
The linkage between exposure to particulate air pollution and increased cardiovascular symptoms and mortality has been shown in epidemiological studies previously, yet relatively little is known about the effect of gaseous pollutants on cardiovascular diseases.
“This is the first study to demonstrate that environmental exposure to NO2 is associated with reducing HRV in human subjects,” says Chang-Chuan Chan, Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
The interaction between particulate matter (PM) and NO2 is an important factor for consideration in understanding air pollution effects on HRV. Further research is needed to understand the biological mechanisms involved and the actual dose-response relationship.