Commuter Air Pollution Intervention Study

NCT02277002 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: REB 2014-0006
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 48
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Traffic related air pollution is a well-recognised and much studied contributor to smog and is linked to a number of adverse health outcomes. Although traffic pollutants can travel long distances, exposure to the highest levels of the raw emissions can occur closest to the source; e.g. in a car in dense traffic conditions. Time spent in-vehicle may contribute up to half of commuters' daily exposure to certain air pollutants. Most new cars now have or allow for a cabin air filter, but it is not known how well cabin air filtration can reduce exposure to traffic-related air pollution. This intervention study will measure commuters' exposure to air pollutants in rush hour traffic. It will evaluate the impact of this exposure on stress hormones in saliva, and short term cardiopulmonary health indicators such as blood pressure, heart rate variability and respiratory inflammation. It will also look at effects on cognition (mental processing and judgement) in this real world environment where any deficit could be important to safety. In addition, the study will examine whether cabin air filtration can reduce the exposure to traffic related air pollutants and result in improvements in short term cardiopulmonary and cognitive function. This research will contribute to our understanding of how this environment contributes to Canadians' overall air pollution exposure as well as the potential health impacts. It will also test a potentially valuable and economical means of reducing exposure to traffic related air pollution in a commuting environment. The study may also guide the future implementation of the use of cabin filters as an exposure reduction intervention. Overall Project Objectives: Can cabin air filtration effectively reduce exposure to traffic related air pollution? Does commuter exposure to air pollution affect short term stress, and cardiopulmonary and cognitive function? Can cabin air filtration mitigate the health effects of commuters' exposure to air pollution?

Conditions

Cognitive Function; Cardiopulmonary Function; Saliva Stress Hormones; Air Pollution Exposure; Lung Inflammation

Keywords

Cabin Air Filtration; Particulate Matter; Commuter Exposure; Traffic Related Air Pollution

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Variation in cardiopulmonary function

  Heart Rate Variability (HRV) will be measured from continuous ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings collected during the study protocol. ECG will be worn for the duration of the study day period (approximately 5 hours), including a period prior to exposure and following exposure.

  5 hours

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Changes in neuropsychological Function

  5 hours

• Changes in endothelial function

  5 hours

• Changes in levels of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis

  5 hours

• Fraction of Exhaled Nitric Oxyde

  5 hours

Study Arms (2)

Placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Participants are exposed to unfiltered cabin air

Other: Placebo

Cabin Air Filter

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants are exposed to filtered cabin air

Device: Cabin Air Filtration

Interventions

Cabin Air Filtration DEVICE

Cabin Air Filter

Placebo OTHER

No Cabin Air Filtration

Placebo

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Healthy Individuals;
• non-smoking.

You may not qualify if:

• Smokers;
• living in a smoking household;
• currently experiencing seasonal allergies;
• suffering from heart rhythm problems or heart conditions;
• regularly taking corticosteroid medication;
• pregnant or breastfeeding;
• allergic to latex;
• sensitivity to adhesives

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Health Canada: lead

Study Sites (1)

Guy-Favreau Complex

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pneumonia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Respiratory Tract Infections; Infections; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases

Study Officials

• Gary Mallach

  Health Canada

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Air Health Effects Researcher

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 9, 2014
• First Posted: October 28, 2014
• Study Start: October 1, 2014
• Primary Completion: November 1, 2014
• Study Completion: November 1, 2014
• Last Updated: March 2, 2015

Record last verified: 2015-02

Locations

CA (1)