Cardiovascular Effects of Incremental Diesel Exhaust Inhalation in Middle-Aged Healthy GSTM1 Null Human Volunteers

Purpose: A growing body of epidemiological data suggests an increased risk of cardiovascular events associated with air pollutants. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated as a potential mechanism for the adverse effects of air pollutants and genetic polymorphisms of the glutathione-s-transferases (GSTs) have been shown to participate in the antioxidant defenses to air pollutants. This study examined the dose effects of diesel exhaust exposure on the cardiovascular system in healthy middle-aged subjects. Participants: Six healthy 50-75 year-old male and female subjects with GSTM1 null genotype had 3 sequential exposures to the diesel exhausts at concentrations approximately 100 µg/m3, 200 µg/m3, and 300 µg/m3 for 2 hours with a about 2 weeks of interval between exposures.