Sympathetic Nerve Response Incited by Biodiesel Exhaust Exposure

Brief as well as chronic exposures to ambient air pollution have been linked with increases in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Evidence suggests that the strongest associations between air pollution exposure and adverse cardiovascular effects are found for combustion-derived particulate matter, especially in the fine and ultrafine ranges such as is found in diesel engine emissions as well as biodiesel exhaust (RME, rapeseed methyl ester). Despite a greater understanding of the cardiovascular effects of air pollution, the underlying mechanism through which exposure to fine and ultrafine particulate air pollution alters vascular function has yet to be determined. Microneurography is a method that records nerve impulse traffic in human peripheral nerves, allowing for the assessment of sympathetic nervous activity. The current study will employed microneurography techniques to evaluate autonomic function in association with inhaled biodiesel exhaust exposure in healthy human volunteers.