Clinical trial NCT01570062: Cardiovascular Effects of Aerosols in Residences Study
Official title: Subclinical Cardiovascular Health Benefits of Interventions to Reduce Exposure to Combustion-Derived Particulate Air Pollution
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE2
Conditions: Endothelial Dysfunction
Systemic Inflammation
Keywords: Inflammation
Pathologic Processes
Lead sponsor: Simon Fraser University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2012-04-04
Enrollment: 83
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 19
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: This study is focused on the effects of HEPA filtration to reduce exposures to combustion-derived air pollution (CDAP). Specifically, the study will evaluate the health benefits of HEPA filters and compare the cardiovascular toxicity of two major sources of CDAP, specifically traffic and residential wood combustion.

Specifically, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the ability of portable high efficiency particle air (HEPA) filters to reduce exposures to PM2.5 and air pollution indoors and to improve subclinical indicators of microvascular function and systemic inflammation among healthy adult participants.

The investigators hypothesize that HEPA filter use will help decrease indoor concentrations of CDAP thereby helping to mitigate the associated cardiovascular risks.

Detailed description: To address knowledge gaps about health risks of specific pollution sources and to provide new evidence on the health benefits of air pollution interventions, the objectives of this study are: 1) quantify the relationship between low-level exposures to combustion-derived PM air pollution and subclinical indicators of cardiovascular disease risk; and 2) compare the relative impact of HEPA filtration for two major PM sources (traffic and residential wood combustion) on these indicators.

The use of HEPA filters may help to mitigate cardiovascular risks factors caused by combustion-derived air pollution (CDAP), (specifically woodstove and traffic emissions). We hypothesize that HEPA filter use and improved woodstove technology will help decrease indoor occurrences of CDAP. This project will help address knowledge gaps in CDAP-related health risks and benefits of interventions. Specific objectives include establishing a relationship between exposure to CDAP and biomarkers of cardiovascular risk and evaluating the impact of HEPA filter use towards improved indoor air quality and health indicators.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* 19 years or older
* non-smoking household
* lives within study boundaries and in areas of interest

Exclusion Criteria:

* COPD
* asthma
* diabetes
* heart disease
* hypertension
* arthritis
* gum disease
* occupationally exposed to traffic exposures \&/or woodsmoke
* if female, pregnant

Primary outcomes:
measure: Difference in reactive hyperemia measurement after HEPA filtration
timeFrame: after 1 week of filtration
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Difference in C-Reactive Protein after HEPA Filtration
timeFrame: after 1 week of filtration
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Burnaby
country: Canada
facility: Simon Fraser University
state: British Columbia
Study officials:
affiliation: Simon Fraser University, Canada
name: Ryan Allen, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Allen RW, Carlsten C, Karlen B, Leckie S, van Eeden S, Vedal S, Wong I, Brauer M. An air filter intervention study of endothelial function among healthy adults in a woodsmoke-impacted community. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011 May 1;183(9):1222-30. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201010-1572OC. Epub 2011 Jan 21.
citation: Kajbafzadeh M, Brauer M, Karlen B, Carlsten C, van Eeden S, Allen RW. The impacts of traffic-related and woodsmoke particulate matter on measures of cardiovascular health: a HEPA filter intervention study. Occup Environ Med. 2015 Jun;72(6):394-400. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2014-102696. Epub 2015 Apr 20.