Particulate matter inhalation during hay storing activity induces systemic inflammation and platelet aggregation

• Published in: European journal of applied physiology 2009-03, Vol.105 (5), p.771-778
• Main Authors: Schicker, B., Kuhn, M., Fehr, R., Asmis, L. M., Karagiannidis, C., Reinhart, W. H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Air Pollutants - toxicity; Air pollution; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Blood platelets; C-Reactive Protein - metabolism; Endothelium, Vascular - metabolism; Endothelium, Vascular - pathology; Farms; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human Physiology; Humans; Inflammation - chemically induced; Inflammation - metabolism; Ischemia; Male; Middle Aged; Mortality; Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine; Original Article; Outdoor air quality; Particulate Matter - toxicity; Plasma; Platelet Aggregation - drug effects; Proteins; Sports Medicine; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports; Viscosity; von Willebrand Factor - metabolism
• ISSN: 1439-6319; 1439-6327
• DOI: 10.1007/s00421-008-0962-9

The aim of this study was to investigate possible pathomechanisms behind the cardiovascular morbidity caused by inhalation of particulate matter (PM 10 ). For that purpose, healthy volunteers were exposed to high PM 10 concentrations during a 2 h hay storing activity. Blood was drawn in the evening before and after PM 10 exposure and in the morning and evening of the day after exposure. The leukocyte count increased after PM 10 exposure with an initial increase of segmented neutrophils followed by banded forms. C -reactive protein increased over time. Fibrinogen and plasma viscosity became increased in the evening of the day after PM 10 exposure. Platelet aggregation was increased in the evening after PM 10 exposure. At the same time von Willebrand factor and factor VIII were increased, reflecting endothelial activation. These results confirm that acute inhalative exposure to high PM 10 concentrations during hay storage activity leads to a systemic inflammatory reaction, endothelial activation, and platelet aggregation.