The effect of low and high-intensity cycling in diesel exhaust on flow-mediated dilation, circulating NOx, endothelin-1 and blood pressure

INTRODUCTION: Exposure to air pollution impairs aspects of endothelial function such as flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Outdoor exercisers are frequently exposed to air pollution, but how exercising in air pollution affects endothelial function and how these effects are modified by exercise intensity are poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of low-intensity and high-intensity cycling with diesel exhaust (DE) exposure on FMD, blood pressure, plasma nitrite and nitrate (NOx) and endothelin-1. METHODS: Eighteen males performed 30-minute trials of low or high-intensity cycling (30% and 60% of power at VO2peak) or a resting control condition. For each subject, each trial was performed once while breathing filtered air (FA) and once while breathing DE (300ug/m3 of PM2.5, six trials in total). Preceding exposure, immediately post-exposure, 1 hour and 2 hours post-exposure, FMD, blood pressure and plasma endothelin-1 and NOx concentrations were measured. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and linear mixed model. RESULTS: Following exercise in DE, plasma NOx significantly increased and was significantly greater than FA (p<0.05). Two hours following DE exposure, endothelin-1 was significantly less than FA (p = 0.037) but exercise intensity did not modify this response. DE exposure did not affect FMD or blood pressure. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that exercising in DE did not adversely affect plasma NOX, endothelin-1, FMD and blood pressure. Therefore, recommendations for healthy individuals to moderate or avoid exercise during bouts of high pollution appear to have no acute protective effect.