The effects of indoor particles on blood pressure and heart rate among young adults in Taipei, Taiwan

This study aims to evaluate whether indoor particles are associated with elevated blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). We recruited 40 young, healthy students from universities in Taipei. We made four home visits in which we took consecutive 48-h measurements of systolic BP, (SBP) diastolic BP (DBP), and HR in each participant. Particulate matter less than 10 μm in diameter (PM 10), 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5), and nitrogen dioxide levels were measured at each participant's home. Participants were asked to keep their windows open during the first two visits, and keep their windows shut during the last two visits. We used linear mixed-effects models to associate BP and HR with indoor air pollutants averaged over 1- to 8-h periods prior to physiological measurements. We found indoor PM10 and PM2.5 exposures at 1- to 4-h means were associated with an elevation in SBP, DBP, and HR. Effects of indoor PM10 and PM2.5 on BP and HR were greatest during the visits with windows open. During windows-closed visits, participants showed no significant change in BP and HR with indoor PM 10 exposure. We concluded that exposures to infiltrated outdoor particles are associated with short-term increases in BP and HR in young and healthy students. Closing windows can reduce indoor PM concentrations and modify the effect of PM10 on BP and HR in young adults. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S.