Baseline and hourly levels of metal PM2.5 (mg/m3), acceleration (AC) and deceleration (DC) capacities of the heart (ms)
| Baseline Mean (SD) | Hourly average Mean (SD)* | Hourly average minus baseline Mean | p Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exposure | ||||
| PM2.5 (mg/m3)† | 0.04 (0.3) | 0.50 (0.4) | 0.46 | <0.01 |
| Outcome | ||||
| AC (ms)‡ | –7.1 (3.8) | −6.3 (3.1) | 0.8 | 0.25 |
| DC (ms) | 8.8 (3.4) | 7.8 (3.8) | −1.0 | 0.17 |
Bold values indicate significant associations (p<0.05).
*This represents the mean of the hourly averages (hours 1, 2 and 3) from the onset of welding.
†PM2.5 ambient levels before shift and average hourly levels during work shift are reported as baseline and hourly average, respectively.
‡AC is measured on a negative scale. N=48 participants.