Effects of indoor air quality improvement on cardiovascular health in general population

Indoor air quality is an important public health issue to human health because individuals spend more than 90% of their time indoors at their residences or workplace. However, studies of the chronic effects of indoor air quality on cardiovascular system among humans are lacking. The effect modification of intervention indoor air quality and cardiovascular health is still unknown. The objective of this intervention study is to evaluate the association between indoor air quality improvement and chronic effects of cardiovascular system among general population in Taipei, Taiwan. This three-year study is a follow-up project of the previous project entitled “Panel study on indoor air pollution-induced acute cardiovascular effects among general population”. We will evaluate effects of window open/closed, air conditioner and air filtration on indoor air quality and cardiovascular health among a panel of young subjects (age 18-25) in 2012, a panel of adult subjects (age 26-64) in 2013, and a panel of elder subjects (age ≧ 65) in 2014. We will conduct four home visits in which we will take consecutive 24-hour measurements of blood pressure, heart rate, and heart rate variability, and take blood sample to measure plasma fibrinogen and high sensitive C-reactive protein in each participant. We will also conduct walkthrough form and indoor air pollution sampling (particles, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds) in each participant’s house. All data (2009-2014) will be combined and analyzed by using mixed-effects models to explore the association between long-term (six-year) exposure to indoor air pollution and physiological indicators related to possible mechanisms linking air pollution to cardiovascular diseases. Our study results can help to clarify possible hypothesis of indoor air pollutants toxicity through the cardiovascular pathways, in causing deaths among general population. The study results can also contribute to Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration in air quality criteria and indoor air pollution control policy.