Ultrafine particles and children's health: Literature review.

The aim of this study was to review and synthesize the existing knowledge of the effects of ultrafine particles [UFPs] with a specific focus on children's health. An extensive literature search identified 16 studies fulfilling the criteria set for the review. One of the most important findings of the review was that, in general, there is an association between children's health and exposure to UFPs, especially among children with respiratory diseases, who commonly experience alterations in inflammatory biomarkers and deterioration in lung function as a result of UFP exposure. Notably, the health effects of UFPs are related to their ability to penetrate through different systems of the body due to their small size.

Effect of air pollution on the autonomic modulation of heart rate in overweight adults.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of air pollution on heart rate variability in overweight individuals. METHODS: A total of 46 adult individuals, both sexes, aged between 18 and 49 years and with body mass index >25kg/m2 were analyzed. All volunteers were students from public schools of two cities in the state of São Paulo. The clinical, demographic and anthropometric data of each individual, as well as heart rate variability through time domain, geometric and frequency indices were collected. For the air quality analysis, the following variables were investigated: concentration of carbon dioxide, particulate matter, temperature and relative humidity. The analysis was carried out with descriptive and analytical statistics, adopting a level of significance of 5%. RESULTS: There was a reduction in overall heart rate variability in overweight individuals by the following indices: mean standard deviation of all normal RR intervals, long-term standard deviation of continuous RR intervals, ratio of short-and long-term standard deviation of continuous RR intervals. In addition, the indices responsible for parasympathetic control showed a downward trend in their values, as well as the low frequency index, which represented sympathetic action, although not significant. CONCLUSION: Overweight individuals exposed to air pollution had lower heart rate variability than the Control Group.

Geometric indexes of heart rate variability in healthy individuals exposed to long-term air pollution.

The aim of this study was to investigate the autonomic modulation of heart rate in healthy individuals exposed to long-term air pollution through geometric methods. We analyzed data from 109 healthy adults aged 18 to 49, divided into three groups according to the exposure time: period 0 to 15 years of exposure (n = 29), more than 15 years of exposure (n = 31), and control group (n = 49). For the analysis of heart rate variability (HRV), heart rate was recorded beat-to-beat for 20 min in the sitting position. The RR intervals were transformed into geometric indexes, and from them, we calculated the RRTri (triangular index), TINN (triangle interpolation of histogram of intervals NN), and Poincaré plot (SD1, SD2, and SD1/SD2). Significantly lower values were observed in the group of individuals exposed to air pollution for more than 15 years compared with the group of individuals exposed to air pollution for a period of 0-15 years and those not exposed for the RRTri (11.5 vs 13.8 vs 14.0), SD1 (16.4 vs 20.5 vs 20.6), SD2 (60.5 vs 68.1 vs 72.5), and SD1/SD2 (0.27 vs 0.34 vs 0.31), with the effect of this difference being considered large (RRTri), medium (SD1, SD1/SD2), and small (SD2). TINN was not significantly different among groups (198.2 vs 223.1 vs 233.6). Healthy individuals exposed to air pollution for more than 15 years present an autonomic imbalance, characterized by lower parasympathetic modulation and overall HRV.

Effect of air pollution on the autonomic modulation of heart rate in overweight adults / Efeito da poluição atmosférica na modulação autonômica da frequência cardíaca em indivíduos com excesso de peso

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the effect of air pollution on heart rate variability in overweight individuals. Methods: A total of 46 adult individuals, both sexes, aged between 18 and 49 years and with body mass index >25kg/m2 were analyzed. All volunteers were students from public schools of two cities in the state of São Paulo. The clinical, demographic and anthropometric data of each individual, as well as heart rate variability through time domain, geometric and frequency indices were collected. For the air quality analysis, the following variables were investigated: concentration of carbon dioxide, particulate matter, temperature and relative humidity. The analysis was carried out with descriptive and analytical statistics, adopting a level of significance of 5%. Results: There was a reduction in overall heart rate variability in overweight individuals by the following indices: mean standard deviation of all normal RR intervals, long-term standard deviation of continuous RR intervals, ratio of short-and long-term standard deviation of continuous RR intervals. In addition, the indices responsible for parasympathetic control showed a downward trend in their values, as well as the low frequency index, which represented sympathetic action, although not significant. Conclusion: Overweight individuals exposed to air pollution had lower heart rate variability than the Control Group.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar o efeito da poluição atmosférica na variabilidade da frequência cardíaca em indivíduos com excesso de peso. Métodos: Foram analisados 46 indivíduos adultos, de ambos os sexos, com idade entre 18 e 49 anos e índice de massa corporal >25kg/m2. Todos os voluntários eram estudantes da Educação de Jovens e Adultos em duas cidades do estado de São Paulo. Foram coletadas informações clínicas, demográficas e antropométricas de cada indivíduo, bem como a variabilidade da frequência cardíaca, por meio dos índices do domínio do tempo, geométricos e de frequência. Para a análise da qualidade do ar, foram investigadas as variáveis concentração de dióxido de carbono, material particulado, temperatura e umidade do ar. A análise se deu por estatística descritiva e analítica, adotando-se nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: Ocorreu redução na variabilidade da frequência cardíaca geral nos indivíduos com excesso de peso por meio dos índices geométricos (desvio padrão a longo prazo dos intervalos RR contínuos, e a razão entre as variações curta e longa dos intervalos RR) e o domínio do tempo (desvio padrão da média de todos os intervalos RR normais). Índices responsáveis pelo controle parassimpático mostraram-se com tendência de queda em seus valores, bem como o índice de baixa frequência que representava a ação do simpático, embora com valores não significativos. Conclusão: Indivíduos com excesso de peso expostos à poluição atmosférica apresentaram menor variabilidade da frequência cardíaca em comparação ao Grupo Controle.

Lesões em surfistas profissionais / Injuries among professional surfers

O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar a ocorrência de lesões relatadas por surfistas profissionais brasileiros, integrantes do circuito brasileiro. O estudo foi realizado durante a etapa do Campeonato Brasileiro de Surfe Profissional masculino, realizado em Maresias, São Sebastião, SP, em junho de 2005. Participaram do estudo 32 surfistas profissionais; cada participante respondeu a um questionário sobre as lesões que havia sofrido durante a prática do esporte. Foram encontradas 112 lesões entre todos os participantes do estudo. O ferimento corto-contuso foi a lesão de maior ocorrência, 38 (33,9 por cento); seguido das entorses, 29 (25,9 por cento); das contusões, 16 (14,2 por cento); estiramentos musculares, 14 (12,5 por cento); queimaduras, 9 (8,0 por cento); fraturas, 6 (5,3 por cento). Concluímos que a maioria das lesões ocorreu durante manobras, no contato com a prancha e com o fundo, sugerindo que os fatores extrínsecos inerentes a esse esporte são potencialmente lesivos para os atletas.

The aim of this study was to verify the occurrence of injuries in Brazilian professional surfers who took part in one of the stages of the Professional Brazilian Surf Championship for men. There were 32 professional surfers participating in the study and each one of them filled in a questionnaire about the injuries they had suffered during the surf practice. There were found 112 injuries among all the participants of the study. Lacerations/cuts was the most frequent injury, 38 (33.9 percent); followed by sprains, 29 (25.9 percent); contusions, 16 (14.2 percent); strains, 14 (12.5 percent); burns, 9 (8.0 percent); fractures, 6 (5.3 percent). We conclude that most of the injuries were originated by trauma, suggesting that the extrinsic factors inherent to this sport are potentially harmful to the athletes.