Effect of air pollution on heart rate variability and pulmonary function in schoolchildren: a cross-sectional study, Cubatão, Brazil, 2017.
- 1Escola Superior de Ciências da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Vitória, Mestrado em Políticas Públicas e Desenvolvimento Local, Vitória, ES, Brazil Escola Superior de Ciências Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Vitória VitóriaES Brazil.
- 2Centro Universitário Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Análises de Dado, Santo André, SP, Brazil Centro Universitário Faculdade de Medicina do ABC Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Análises de Dado Santo AndréSP Brazil.
Abstract
Objective
To assess the effect of air pollution on heart rate variability and pulmonary function in schoolchildren.Methods
This was a cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of schoolchildren living in a highly polluted area in Cubatão, São Paulo. Resting heart rate variability data were collected through cardiac monitoring, based on SDNN (standard deviation of NN intervals), rMSSD (root mean square of successive differences between NN intervals), and HFnu (high-frequency component in normalized units, an indicator of autonomic parasympathetic activity). In order to assess pulmonary function, spirometry was performed based on FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in the first second) and FEF25%-75% (forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of forced vital capacity). Pollutant concentration levels were provided by the São Paulo State Environment Company. Multiple linear regression was used to investigate associations between pollutant levels and physiological parameters, using Stata software version 12.0.Results
Seventy-seven schoolchildren were assessed. Increased sulfur dioxide was associated with a reduction in HFnu: -0.68 (95% confidence interval - 95%CI -1.27; -0.11) in the daily average, -0.67 (95%CI -1.26; -0.07) over two days, and -1.29 (95%CI -2.21; -0.38) over three days. Ozone was also associated with a -0.32 (95%CI -0.62; -0.02) reduction in HFnu. Regarding pulmonary function, increased nitrogen dioxide was associated with a 0.23% reduction in FEV1 and a 0.30% reduction in FEF25%-75%.Conclusion
Schoolchildren exposed to air pollution showed reduced heart rate variability and pulmonary function.
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BibTeX
@article{oliveira2026effect,
title = {{Effect of air pollution on heart rate variability and pulmonary function in schoolchildren: a cross-sectional study, Cubatão, Brazil, 2017.}},
author = {Fernando Rocha Oliveira and Laércio da Silva Paiva and Roberta Ribeiro Batista Barbosa and Fabiana Rosa Neves Smiderle and Italla Maria Pinheiro Bezerra},
journal = {Epidemiologia e servicos de saude : revista do Sistema Unico de Saude do Brasil},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.1590/s2237-96222026v35e20250368.en},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42922790},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effect of air pollution on heart rate variability and pulmonary function in schoolchildren: a cross-sectional study, Cubatão, Brazil, 2017.
AU - Fernando Rocha Oliveira
AU - Laércio da Silva Paiva
AU - Roberta Ribeiro Batista Barbosa
AU - Fabiana Rosa Neves Smiderle
AU - Italla Maria Pinheiro Bezerra
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/17
JO - Epidemiologia e servicos de saude : revista do Sistema Unico de Saude do Brasil
DO - 10.1590/s2237-96222026v35e20250368.en
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42922790
AB - Objective To assess the effect of air pollution on heart rate variability and pulmonary function in schoolchildren.Methods This was a cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of schoolchildren living in a highly polluted area in Cubatão, São Paulo. Resting heart rate variability data were collected through cardiac monitoring, based on SDNN (standard deviation of NN intervals), rMSSD (root mean square of successive differences between NN intervals), and HFnu (high-frequency component in normalized units, an indicator of autonomic parasympathetic activity). In order to assess pulmonary function, spirometry was performed based on FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in the first second) and FEF25%-75% (forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of forced vital capacity). Pollutant concentration levels were provided by the São Paulo State Environment Company. Multiple linear regression was used to investigate associations between pollutant levels and physiological parameters, using Stata software version 12.0.Results Seventy-seven schoolchildren were assessed. Increased sulfur dioxide was associated with a reduction in HFnu: -0.68 (95% confidence interval - 95%CI -1.27; -0.11) in the daily average, -0.67 (95%CI -1.26; -0.07) over two days, and -1.29 (95%CI -2.21; -0.38) over three days. Ozone was also associated with a -0.32 (95%CI -0.62; -0.02) reduction in HFnu. Regarding pulmonary function, increased nitrogen dioxide was associated with a 0.23% reduction in FEV1 and a 0.30% reduction in FEF25%-75%.Conclusion Schoolchildren exposed to air pollution showed reduced heart rate variability and pulmonary function.
SN - 1679-4974
SN - 2237-9622
ER -