Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Indoor Air Pollution and 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 long-term exposure to indoor air pollution on cardiovascular system among humans are lacking. The effect modification of indoor air quality intervention 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 “Effects of indoor air quality improvement on cardiovascular health in general population”. We will evaluate effects of window open/closed, air conditioner, air filtration and air purifier on indoor air quality and cardiovascular health among a panel of young subjects (age 20-25) in 2017, a panel of adult subjects (age 26-64) in 2018, and a panel of elder subjects (age ≧ 65) in 2019 We will conduct twelve home visits (4 days for each visit) in which we will take consecutive 12-hour/day measurements of blood pressure and heart rate variability, and take blood sample to measure plasma fibrinogen and high sensitive C-reactive protein among all participants (300 participants). We will also conduct walkthrough form and 24-hour/day indoor air pollution sampling (particles, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds) in each participant’s house. All data (2017-2019) will be combined and analyzed by using mixed-effects models to explore the association between long-term 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.