Metabolic linkages between indoor negative air ions, particulate matter and cardiorespiratory function: A randomized, double-blind crossover study among children.

Shan Liu, Qingyu Huang, Yan Wu, Yi Song, Wei Dong, Mengtian Chu, Di Yang, Xi Zhang, Jie Zhang, Chen Chen, Bin Zhao, Heqing Shen, Xinbiao Guo, Furong Deng

Journal: Environment international 2020;138():105663

PMID: 32203810

Free Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Ionization air purifiers, which purify particulate matter (PM) by producing vast number of negative air ions (NAI), are widely used. Recent study implied that ionization air purification could bring respiratory benefits but deterioration of heart rate variability (HRV). However, its underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the molecular linkages between indoor NAI, decreased PM and the cardiorespiratory effect after purification.

METHODS

Urine samples were collected from 44 healthy children three times of each study period (real and sham purification) in an existing randomized, double-blind crossover study. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry was conducted in metabolomics analysis, the associations between indoor NAI, decreased PM and the cardiorespiratory function were investigated via the meet-in-metabolite approach (MIMA) based on statistical and metabolic pathway analysis. Mixed-effect models were used to establish associations between exposure, health parameters and metabolites.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight and fourteen metabolites were identified with significant correlations to NAI and PM, respectively. Besides, eight and eighteen metabolites were separately associated with respiratory function and HRV. The increased NAI and decreased PM improved respiratory function mainly with eight pathways, promoting energy production, anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation capacity. Decreased PM ameliorated HRV with six main pathways, increasing energy production and anti-inflammation capacity while increased NAI deteriorated HRV with five main pathways, lowering energy generation and anti-oxidation capacity.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased NAI and decreased PM ameliorated respiratory function by increasing energy production, improving anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation capacity. Decreased PM improved cardiac autonomic function by increasing energy production and anti-inflammation capacity, while these benefits were overcast by massive NAI via lowering energy generation and anti-oxidation capacity with different metabolic pathways.

Address: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.; Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China.; Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.; Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.; Department of Building Science, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.

DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105663

Link outs

Free resources

Full Text Sources:

https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0160...

Medical:

https://medlineplus.gov/indoorairpollution.html

MeSH Terms: Air Filters, Air Pollutants, Air Pollution, Indoor, Child, Cross-Over Studies, Humans, Ions, Particulate Matter