Exposure to diesel exhaust induces changes in EEG in human volunteers

Background: Ambient particulate matter and nanoparticles have been shown to translocate to the brain, and potentially influence the central nervous system. No data are available whether this may lead to functional changes in the brain. Methods: We exposed 10 human volunteers to dilute diesel exhaust (DE, 300 μg/m3) as a model for ambient PM exposure and filtered air for one hour using a double blind randomized crossover design. Brain activity was monitored during and for one hour following each exposure using quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) at 8 different sites on the scalp. The frequency spectrum of the EEG signals was used to calculate the median power frequency (MPF) and specific frequency bands of the QEEG. Results: Our data demonstrate a significant increase in MPF in response to DE in the frontal cortex within 30 min into exposure. The increase in MPF is primarily caused by an increase in fast wave activity (β2) and continues to rise during the 1 hour post-exposure interval. Conclusion: This study is the first to show a functional effect of DE exposure in the human brain, indicating a general cortical stress response. Further studies are required to determine whether this effect is mediated by the nanoparticles in DE and to define the precise pathways involved

Respiratory and cardiovascular responses to diesel exhaust exposure

Background: Exposure to traffic-derived air pollution is associated to high incidence of respiratory and cardio-vascular morbidity and mortality. Diesel engines and fossil fuel contribute to a great amount to the ambient particulate matter pollution. Exposure to diesel exhaust in healthy volunteers is known to cause inflammatory and oxidative responses in the airways. In contrast, very little is known about the air pollution-related mechanisms behind the adverse cardiovascular effects and why patients with cardiorespiratory disease are more susceptible to the adverse effect of particulate matter air pollution. Methods: Volunteers were exposed to diesel exhaust at a particulate matter concentration of 300 μg/m3 and filtered air for one hour in random order. In studies I-II, patients with moderately severe, stable COPD were examined with lung function, induced sputum and peripheral blood samples. In studies III-V, vascular assessment was performed using venous occlusion plethysmography. Vascular responses to intra-arterially infused endothelial dependent and independent vasodilators were determined, together with endogenous fibrinolysis, systemic inflammation and long-term ECG registration. These vascular studies were carried out in healthy volunteers and patients with stable coronary heart disease. Results: In healthy subjects, diesel exhaust exposure induced an acute vasomotor dysfunction, which was partly sustained at 24 hours. Endogenous fibrinolysis reflected by tissue plasminogen activator (t-Pa) levels and activity were reduced at 6 hours post exposure both in healthy subjects and patients with stable PCI-treated coronary heart disease. During diesel exhaust exposure, ECG analyses demonstrated significant exerciseinduced ST-T segment depression in patients with coronary heart disease. These findings occurred at a moderately increased heart rate of approximately 90 beats per minute during both diesel and air exposures. The investigated group of stable COPD patients did not demonstrate any further deterioration of lung function, induced sputum or systemic inflammatory parameters within the investigated time frame. Conclusion: Inhalation of diesel exhaust impaired two important and complementary aspects of vascular function in healthy subjects; regulation of vascular tone and endogenous fibrinolysis. In men with stable coronary heart disease, exposure to diesel exhaust induced signs of myocardial ischemia, along with impaired endogenous fibrinolytic capacity, despite full secondary preventive medication. These exposure studies support the epidemiological evidence of an association between particulate matter air pollution and adverse cardiovascular effects and demonstrate important underlying mechanisms

Kommunala valrörelser 1979 - Medborgarundersökningen

The second project started as a result of a decision of the Swedish Parliament taken in December 1978. The research program was designed by a government commission, the Commission on Local Democracy, in collaborations with members of the previous Local Government Research Group. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the reapportionment reform which had been implemented five years earlier, to some extent in relation to research findings of the previous project. In five communes, which were to be the object of more intensive studies, the interview sample comprised 300 persons per commune. In the other 45 communes the sample comprised 40 persons per commune. The interview scheme contained questions about the respondent´s opinion of the local authorities achievements in different issues, such as child care, care of the aged, schools, and housing. A question concerning the priorities of activities covered 14 fields of service and within each field the respondent were asked whether the service was good as it was, needed to be increased, or could be reduced. Other questions dealt with the respondent´s contacts with local administrative authorities in specific matters. These were followed by questions on political activity, i.e. activity which concerned communal decisions and plans, via political parties, via local government officers or via manifestations and action groups. A number of questions measured the respondent´s knowledge of local election issues, names of the candidates, the political majority situation in the communes, and the personal acquaintance with local politicians. The intensive study of five communes, Grästorp, Kävlinge, Linköping, Luleå, and Sjöbo contained the same questions as the Voters´ study, but it also included a number of questions about specific local issues and local service. The Voters' study include respondents from all 50 municipalities.The second project started as a result of a decision of the Swedish Parliament taken in December 1978. The research program was designed by a government commission, the Commission on Local Democracy, in collaborations with members of the previous Local Government Research Group. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the reapportionment reform which had been implemented five years earlier, to some extent in relation to research findings of the previous project. In five communes, which were to be the object of more intensive studies, the interview sample comprised 300 persons per commune. In the other 45 communes the sample comprised 40 persons per commune. The interview scheme contained questions about the respondent´s opinion of the local authorities achievements in different issues, such as child care, care of the aged, schools, and housing. A question concerning the priorities of activities covered 14 fields of service and within each field the respondent were asked whether the service was good as it was, needed to be increased, or could be reduced. Other questions dealt with the respondent´s contacts with local administrative authorities in specific matters. These were followed by questions on political activity, i.e. activity which concerned communal decisions and plans, via political parties, via local government officers or via manifestations and action groups. A number of questions measured the respondent´s knowledge of local election issues, names of the candidates, the political majority situation in the communes, and the personal acquaintance with local politicians. The intensive study of five communes, Grästorp, Kävlinge, Linköping, Luleå, and Sjöbo contained the same questions as the Voters´ study, but it also included a number of questions about specific local issues and local service. Medborgarundersökningen omfattar respondenter från samtliga 50 kommuner

Kommunala valrörelser 1979 - Femkommunsundersökningen

The second project started as a result of a decision of the Swedish Parliament taken in December 1978. The research program was designed by a government commission, the Commission on Local Democracy, in collaborations with members of the previous Local Government Research Group. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the reapportionment reform which had been implemented five years earlier, to some extent in relation to research findings of the previous project. In five communes, which were to be the object of more intensive studies, the interview sample comprised 300 persons per commune. In the other 45 communes the sample comprised 40 persons per commune. The interview scheme contained questions about the respondent´s opinion of the local authorities achievements in different issues, such as child care, care of the aged, schools, and housing. A question concerning the priorities of activities covered 14 fields of service and within each field the respondent were asked whether the service was good as it was, needed to be increased, or could be reduced. Other questions dealt with the respondent´s contacts with local administrative authorities in specific matters. These were followed by questions on political activity, i.e. activity which concerned communal decisions and plans, via political parties, via local government officers or via manifestations and action groups. A number of questions measured the respondent´s knowledge of local election issues, names of the candidates, the political majority situation in the communes, and the personal acquaintance with local politicians. The intensive study of five communes, Grästorp, Kävlinge, Linköping, Luleå, and Sjöbo contained the same questions as the Voters´ study, but it also included a number of questions about specific local issues and local service. In five communes, which were to be the object of more intensive studies, the interview sample comprised 300 persons per commune. The questionnaire contained the same questions as the Voters' study, but it also included a number of questions about specific local issues and local service.The second project started as a result of a decision of the Swedish Parliament taken in December 1978. The research program was designed by a government commission, the Commission on Local Democracy, in collaborations with members of the previous Local Government Research Group. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the reapportionment reform which had been implemented five years earlier, to some extent in relation to research findings of the previous project. In five communes, which were to be the object of more intensive studies, the interview sample comprised 300 persons per commune. In the other 45 communes the sample comprised 40 persons per commune. The interview scheme contained questions about the respondent´s opinion of the local authorities achievements in different issues, such as child care, care of the aged, schools, and housing. A question concerning the priorities of activities covered 14 fields of service and within each field the respondent were asked whether the service was good as it was, needed to be increased, or could be reduced. Other questions dealt with the respondent´s contacts with local administrative authorities in specific matters. These were followed by questions on political activity, i.e. activity which concerned communal decisions and plans, via political parties, via local government officers or via manifestations and action groups. A number of questions measured the respondent´s knowledge of local election issues, names of the candidates, the political majority situation in the communes, and the personal acquaintance with local politicians. The intensive study of five communes, Grästorp, Kävlinge, Linköping, Luleå, and Sjöbo contained the same questions as the Voters´ study, but it also included a number of questions about specific local issues and local service. I fem kommuner genomfördes mera omfattande undersökningar och urvalet bestod där av 300 personer per kommun. Frågeformuläret innehöll samma frågor som i Väljarundersökningen, men inkluderade även ett antal frågor rörande specifika lokala ämnen och lokal service