Kusha, MarjanMasse, StephaneFarid, TalhaUrch, BruceSilverman, FrancesBrook, Robert DMangat, IqwalSpeck, MaryNair, KrishnakumarPoku, KwakuWellenius, Gregory ANanthakumar, KumaraswamyGold, DianeChris, MeyerMittleman, Murray2013-04-222012Kusha, Marjan, Stephane Masse, Talha Farid, Bruce Urch, Frances Silverman, Robert D Brook, Diane R Gold et al. 2012. Controlled exposure study of air pollution and T-wave alternans in volunteers without cardiovascular disease. Environmental Health Perspectives 120(8): 1157-1161.0091-67651552-9924http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:10579105Background: Epidemiological studies have assessed T-wave alternans (TWA) as a possible mechanism of cardiac arrhythmias related to air pollution in high-risk subjects and have reported associations with increased TWA magnitude. Objective: In this controlled human exposure study, we assessed the impact of exposure to concentrated ambient particulate matter (CAP) and ozone (O:3) on T-wave alternans in resting volunteers without preexisting cardiovascular disease. Methods: Seventeen participants without preexisting cardiovascular disease were randomized to filtered air (FA), CAP (150 μg/m3), O3 (120 ppb), or combined CAP + O3 exposures for 2 hr. Continuous electrocardiograms (ECGs) were recorded at rest and T-wave alternans (TWA) was computed by modified moving average analysis with QRS alignment for the artifact-free intervals of 20 beats along the V2 and V5 leads. Exposure-induced changes in the highest TWA magnitude (TWAMax) were estimated for the first and last 5 min of each exposure (TWAMax_Early and TWAMax_Late respectively). ΔTWAMax (Late–Early) were compared among exposure groups using analysis of variance. Results: Mean ± SD values for ΔTWA:Max were –2.1 ± 0.4, –2.7 ± 1.1, –1.9 ± 1.5, and –1.2 ± 1.5 in FA, CAP, O3, and CAP + O3 exposure groups, respectively. No significant differences were observed between pollutant exposures and FA. Conclusion: In our study of 17 volunteers who had no preexisting cardiovascular disease, we did not observe significant changes in T-wave alternans after 2-hr exposures to CAP, O:3, or combined CAP + O3. This finding, however, does not preclude the possibility of pollution-related effects on TWA at elevated heart rates, such as during exercise, or the possibility of delayed responses.en-USJournal Article2013-04-2210.1289/ehp.1104171