PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Mi-Sun Lee AU - Shannon Magari AU - David C Christiani TI - Cardiac autonomic dysfunction from occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons AID - 10.1136/oem.2010.055681 DP - 2011 Jul 01 TA - Occupational and Environmental Medicine PG - 474--478 VI - 68 IP - 7 4099 - http://oem.bmj.com/content/68/7/474.short 4100 - http://oem.bmj.com/content/68/7/474.full SO - Occup Environ Med2011 Jul 01; 68 AB - Objectives Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been associated with cardiopulmonary mortality and cardiovascular events. This study investigated the association between a biological marker of PAH exposure, assessed by urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), and heart-rate variability in an occupational cohort of boilermakers.Methods Continuous 24 h monitoring of the ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG) and pre- and postshift urinary 1-OHP were repeated over extended periods of the work week. Mixed-effects models were fitted for the 5 min SD of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN) in relation to urinary 1-OHP levels pre- and postworkshift on the day they wore the monitor, controlling for potential confounders.Results The authors found a significant decrease in 5 min SDNN during work of −13.6% (95% CI −17.2% to −9.8%) per SD (0.53 μg/g creatinine) increase in the next-morning preshift 1-OHP levels. The magnitude of reduction in 5 min SDNN was largest during the late night period after work and increased with each SD (0.46 μg/g creatinine) increase in postshift 1-OHP levels.Conclusion This is the first report providing evidence that occupational exposure to PAHs is associated with altered cardiac autonomic function. Acute exposure to PAHs may be an important predictor of cardiovascular disease risk in the work environment.