Health Effects of Biodiesel Exhaust Exposure
- Conditions
- Vascular Endothelium
- Interventions
- Other: Forearm venous occlusion plethysmography study
- Registration Number
- NCT01883466
- Lead Sponsor
- Umeå University
- Brief Summary
Urban air pollution is a major contributor to greenhouse gases and has been shown to increase cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. This century has seen a rebirth of biofuel marketing and research, with biodiesel emerging as one of the strongest contenders within international markets. The pursuit of alternative renewable fuels is incredibly complex and has powered research in agriculture, biotechnology, production, transportation, feedstocks, ecology and biomass manufacturing. In spite of this, health effects have been an almost completely overlooked aspect. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether 100% biodiesel exhaust exposure in healthy volunteers leads to cardiovascular and inflammatory responses. Further investigations into the chemical composition of biodiesel exhaust will also be performed.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- Male
- Target Recruitment
- 19
Non-smoking, healthy male subjects. All subjects undergo a general health examination and are required to have normal clinical examination, ECG, blood tests and lung function.
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Cardiovascular disease
- Asthma
- Respiratory infection within 2 weeks of the study
- Antioxidant- and/or vitamin supplementation within 1 week prior to, as well as during the course of the study. (incl vitamin C, Acetylcysteine)
- Smokers or regular snus usage
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- CROSSOVER
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Diesel exhaust exposure Forearm venous occlusion plethysmography study 1 hour exposure to dilute diesel exhaust (approximate particle matter concentration 300 mcg/m3) during intermittent exercise Biodiesel exhaust exposure Forearm venous occlusion plethysmography study 1 hour exposure to dilute biodiesel exhaust (generated at same running conditions as diesel exhaust) during intermittent exercise
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Vascular vasomotor and fibrinolytic function 4-6 hours after exposure Forearm venous occlusion plethysmography to measure forearm blood flow during unilateral intrabrachial infusion of endothelial-dependent and -independent vasodilators (bradykinin \& acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside \& verapamil respectively). Tissue plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 were analysed in blood samples taken after bradykinin infusions in order to assess fibrinolytic function. These composite outcome measures will together indicate vascular vasomotor function.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Respiratory function tests Baseline, 6 and 24 hours after exposure Basic spirometry and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) are performed at baseline, as well as 6 and 24 hours after exposure.
Effects of exposure on metabolomic markers in plasma Baseline and 2, 4 & 24 hours after exposure Blood samples taken at baseline as well as at 2, 4 and 24 hours post-exposure will be stored as plasma for metabolomic analysis. Since inflammatory mediators such as eicosanoids and other fatty acid metabolites have been seen as likely key players in air pollution response, particular interest will be directed towards the oxylipin metabolome, which will be analyzed according to established protocols. These samples are taken in EDTA tubes and placed on ice. They are centrifuged at a low temperature and then divided into 1ml allotments. These are then stored in a freezer until analysis.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Umeå University Hospital
🇸🇪Umeå, Sweden