Introduction: Outdoor exercise is a common activity that may increase the load of inhaled pollutants. However, the effects in healthy human are not fully clarified. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of physical exercises in different PM 2.5 concentrations in Heart Rate Variability (HRV) in young healthy non-smokers. Methods: 33 regular street runners age 19±1 years old, entered into the study and performed morning running (8-9 A.M.) of 7.5 km of distance, one week in a circuit on a Park (Pk) and another in a circuit on Public Roads (PR). We recorded HRV before (15 minutes at rest) and during running (45 minutes) on Mondays and Fridays, with a Heart Rate (HR) monitor, Polar RS800. During races individual monitoring of PM 2.5 concentrations and environmental temperature were carried out. Descriptive, univariate and multivariate analyzes using mixed effects model were performed. Results: The concentration of PM 2.5 on Pk and PR circuits were 24.0µg/m³ (IQR:11-39) and 53.0µg/m³ (IQR:37-82), respectively (p<0.001), with no significant differences in environmental temperature between the circuits. Univariate analysis showed that running on the PR circuit is associated to increase in the LFnu and LF/HF. Multivariate analysis showed that the exercises in the circuit on PR was significantly associated to a lower heart rate increase, larger HFnu decrease, larger LFnu increase and higher elevation of LF/HF, compared to Pk circuit. Conclusions: The exercises at different environmental PM 2.5 concentrations exert different significant effects on HRV, with small magnitude, that is not likely to have clinical implications in young healthy population.
Paceli et al. (Mon,) studied this question.
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