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Liddie JM, Vieira CLZ, Coull BA, Sparrow D, Koutrakis P, Weisskopf MG. Associations between solar and geomagnetic activity and cognitive function in the Normative Aging study. Environ Int 2024; 187:108666. [PMID: 38648690 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies show that changes in solar and geomagnetic activity (SGA) influence melatonin secretion and the autonomic nervous system. We evaluated associations between solar and geomagnetic activity and cognitive function in the Normative Aging Study from 1992 to 2013. METHODS We used logistic and linear generalized estimating equations and regressions to evaluate the associations between moving averages of sunspot number (SSN) and Kp index (a measure of geomagnetic activity) and a binary measure for Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores (≤25 or > 25) and six other cognitive tests as continuous measures, combined into one global composite score and considered separately. RESULTS A one-IQR increase in same-day SSN and Kp index were associated with 17% (95% CI: 3%, 34%) and 19% (95% CI: 4%, 36%) increases in the odds of low MMSE score. We observed small increases in the global cognitive score with increasing SSN, although we observed decreases specifically in relation to the backwards digit span test. CONCLUSIONS Periods of high SGA were associated with cognitive function. SGA may not equally impact all aspects of cognitive function, as evidenced by differences in associations observed for the MMSE, global cognitive score, and individual cognitive tests. Given that much of the pathology of cognitive decline in the elderly remains unexplained, studies specifically targeting decline and with longer follow-up periods are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jahred M Liddie
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Carolina L Z Vieira
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Brent A Coull
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David Sparrow
- VA Normative Aging Study, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Petros Koutrakis
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marc G Weisskopf
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Mortelliti CL, Lee JX, Greco K, Koutrakis P, Phipatanakul W, Gaffin J, Zilli Vieira C. Solar and geomagnetic activity impacts children with asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2024; 12:1077-1079.e1. [PMID: 38151120 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2023.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Julia X Lee
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass
| | - Kimberly Greco
- Institutional Centers for Clinical and Translational Research, Boston, Mass
| | - Petros Koutrakis
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Mass
| | - Wanda Phipatanakul
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Jonathan Gaffin
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.
| | - Carolina Zilli Vieira
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Mass
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Sarimov RM, Serov DA, Gudkov SV. Biological Effects of Magnetic Storms and ELF Magnetic Fields. Biology (Basel) 2023; 12:1506. [PMID: 38132332 PMCID: PMC10740910 DOI: 10.3390/biology12121506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic fields are a constant and essential part of our environment. The main components of ambient magnetic fields are the constant part of the geomagnetic field, its fluctuations caused by magnetic storms, and man-made magnetic fields. These fields refer to extremely-low-frequency (<1 kHz) magnetic fields (ELF-MFs). Since the 1980s, a huge amount of data has been accumulated on the biological effects of magnetic fields, in particular ELF-MFs. However, a unified picture of the patterns of action of magnetic fields has not been formed. Even though a unified mechanism has not yet been generally accepted, several theories have been proposed. In this review, we attempted to take a new approach to analyzing the quantitative data on the effects of ELF-MFs to identify new potential areas for research. This review provides general descriptions of the main effects of magnetic storms and anthropogenic fields on living organisms (molecular-cellular level and whole organism) and a brief description of the main mechanisms of magnetic field effects on living organisms. This review may be of interest to specialists in the fields of biology, physics, medicine, and other interdisciplinary areas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sergey V. Gudkov
- Prokhorov General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 38 Vavilova Street, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (R.M.S.); (D.A.S.)
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Chai Z, Wang Y, Li YM, Zhao ZG, Chen M. Correlations between geomagnetic field and global occurrence of cardiovascular diseases: evidence from 204 territories in different latitude. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1771. [PMID: 37697364 PMCID: PMC10496193 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16698-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The correlation between stable geomagnetic fields and unstable geomagnetic activities with mortality, incidence, and prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remains ambiguous. METHOD To investigate the correlations between geomagnetic field (GMF) intensity and geomagnetic disturbance (GMD) and CVDs events in global, long-period scale, global and 204 countries and territories were included on the base of 2019 Global Burden of Disease study (GBD 2019). Data of GMF intensity, GMD frequency, CVDs events, weather and health economic indicators from 1996 to 2019 of included locations were collected. Linear regression and panel data modelling were conducted to identify the correlations between GMF intensity and CVDs events, multi-factor panel data analysis was also generated to adjust the effect of confounding factors. RESULTS For the average data during 1996-2019, linear regression model revealed consistent positive correlations between total GMF (tGMF) intensity and mortality of total CVDs [coef = 0.009, (0.006,0.011 95%CI)], whereas negative correlations were found between horizonal GMF (hGMF) intensity and total CVD mortality [coef = -0.010 (-0.013, -0.007 95%CI)]. When considering the time trend, panel data analysis still demonstrated positive correlation between tGMF and total CVDs mortality [coef = 0.009, (0.008,0.009 95%CI)]. Concurrently, the hGMF negatively correlated with total CVDs mortality [coef = -0.008, (-0.009, -0.007 95%CI)]. When the panel models were adjusted for confounding factors, no reverse of correlation tendency was found between tGMF, hGMF and CVDs events. In high-income territories, positive correlation was found between geomagnetic storm (GMS) frequency and mortality of total CVDs [coef = 14.007,(2.785, 25.229 95%CI)], however, this positive trend faded away gradually with the latitude decreasing from polar to equator. CONCLUSIONS Stable and long-term horizontal component of GMF may be beneficial to cardiac health. Unstable and short-term GMF called GMD could be a hazard to cardiac health. Our results suggest the importance of regular GMF in maintaining cardio-health state and the adverse impacts of GMD on cardiac health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Chai
- Laboratory of Heart Valve Disease and Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 GuoXue Alley, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, P.R. China
| | - Yan Wang
- Laboratory of Heart Valve Disease and Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 GuoXue Alley, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, P.R. China
| | - Yi-Ming Li
- Laboratory of Heart Valve Disease and Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 GuoXue Alley, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, P.R. China
| | - Zhen-Gang Zhao
- Laboratory of Heart Valve Disease and Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 GuoXue Alley, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, P.R. China
| | - Mao Chen
- Laboratory of Heart Valve Disease and Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 GuoXue Alley, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, P.R. China.
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Davies E. The decrease in diurnal oxygen production in Elodea under the influence of high geomagnetic variability: the role of light, temperature and atmospheric pressure. Int J Biometeorol 2023; 67:821-834. [PMID: 36973472 PMCID: PMC10167113 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-023-02457-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have indicated adverse effects of geomagnetic disturbance on human health, including increased mortality. There is evidence from plant and animal studies that help to elucidate this interaction. This study tests the hypothesis that geomagnetic disturbance affects living systems, by modifying the metabolic process of photosynthesis, in the natural environment.Continuous 24-h measurements of dissolved oxygen in flasks containing Holtfreiter's solution and strands of healthy Elodea were recorded from May 1996, until September 1998, in an electromagnetically quiet, purpose built, garden shed environment, without mains electricity. Sensormeter recordings of oxygen, light, temperature and air pressure were uploaded weekly to a PC. The hourly total geomagnetic field measurements were obtained from the nearest observatory.Significant decrease in oxygen (diurnal volume of oxygen divided by plant mass and diurnal light), (O/WL), was found on days of high geomagnetic field variability throughout 11 recorded months of the year 1997. This result was independent of temperature and atmospheric pressure. No significant decrease in O/WL during high geomagnetic variability was found for the 7 months recorded in 1996. The 1996 and 1997 data both showed a significant decrease in the diurnal time lag between peak light and peak oxygen for diurnal high geomagnetic variability compared with low geomagnetic variability. Cross correlation analysis for 1997 and 1998 data showed a decrease in positive correlation of oxygen with light in high geomagnetic variability, compared with low geomagnetic variability, and increased positive correlation with the geomagnetic field instead. These experiments support a hypothesis of high geomagnetic field variability as a weak zeitgeber, and a metabolic depressant for photosynthetic oxygen production in plants.
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Zilli Vieira CL, Chen K, Garshick E, Liu M, Vokonas P, Ljungman P, Schwartz J, Koutrakis P. Geomagnetic disturbances reduce heart rate variability in the Normative Aging Study. Sci Total Environ 2022; 839:156235. [PMID: 35644403 PMCID: PMC9233046 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Solar and geomagnetic activity (GA) have been linked to increased cardiovascular (CVD) events. We hypothesize that heart rate variability (HRV) may be the biological mechanism between increased CVD risk and intense geomagnetic disturbances (GMD). METHODS To evaluate the impact of GA and intense GMD on HRV in 809 elderly men [age mean 74.5 (SD = 6.8)] enrolled in the Normative Aging Study (Greater Boston Area), we performed repeated-measures using mixed-effects regression models. We evaluated two HRV outcomes: the square root of the mean squared differences of successive normal-to-normal intervals (r-MSSD) and the standard deviation of normal-to-normal heartbeat intervals (SDNN) in milliseconds (ms). We also compared the associations between Kp and HRV in patients with and without comorbidities such as diabetes and coronary heart diseases (CHD). We used data on global planetary K-Index (Kp) from middle latitudes as a GA and GMD (>75th Kp) parameters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency's Space Weather Prediction Center. RESULTS We found a near immediate effect of continuous and higher Kp on reduced HRV for exposures up to 24 h prior to electrocardiogram recording. A 75th percentile increase in 15-hour Kp prior the examination was associated with a -14.7 ms change in r-MSSD (95 CI: -23.1, -6.3, p-value = 0.0007) and a -8.2 ms change in SDNN (95 CI: -13.9, -2.5, p-value = 0.006). The associations remained similar after adjusting the models for air pollutants over the exposure window prior to the event. In periods of intense GMD, the associations were stronger in patients with CHD and non-diabetes. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to demonstrate the potential adverse effects of geomagnetic activity on reduced heart rate variability in a large epidemiologic cohort over an extended period, which may have important clinical implications among different populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina L Zilli Vieira
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Kelly Chen
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Eric Garshick
- Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine Section, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Man Liu
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Pantel Vokonas
- VA Normative Aging Study, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System and the Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Petter Ljungman
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Sweden; Department of Cardiology, Danderyd University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joel Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Petros Koutrakis
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Anand K, Vieira CLZ, Garshick E, Wang V, Blomberg A, Gold DR, Schwartz J, Vokonas P, Koutrakis P. Solar and geomagnetic activity reduces pulmonary function and enhances particulate pollution effects. Sci Total Environ 2022; 838:156434. [PMID: 35660608 PMCID: PMC9552041 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increased solar and geomagnetic activity (SGA) may alter sympathetic nervous system activity, reduce antioxidant activity, and modulate physiochemical processes that contribute to atmospheric aerosols, all which may reduce pulmonary function. OBJECTIVES Investigate associations between forced expiratory volume at 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) with SGA, and assess whether SGA enhances adverse effects of particulate pollution, black carbon (BC) and particulate matter ≤2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5). METHODS We conducted a repeated measures analysis in 726 Normative Aging Study participants (Boston, Massachusetts, USA) between 2000 and 2017, using interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), planetary K index (Kp), and sunspot number (SSN) as SGA measures. Linear mixed effects models were used to assess exposure moving averages up to 28 days for both SGA and pollution. RESULTS Increases in IMF, Kp Index and SSN from the day of the pulmonary function test averaged through day 28 of were associated with a significant decrement in FEV1 and FVC, after adjusting for potential confounders. There were greater effects for longer moving averages and enhanced effects of PM2.5 and BC on FEV1 and FVC with increased SGA. For example, for each inter-quartile increase (4.55 μg/m3) in average PM2.5 28 days before testing, low IMF (10th percentile: 3.2 nT) was associated with a -21.4 ml (95 % CI: -60.8, 18.1) and -7.1 ml (95 % CI: -37.7, 23·4) decrease in FVC and FEV1, respectively; high IMF (90th percentile: 9.0 nT) was associated with a -120.7 ml (95 % CI:-166.5, -74.9) and -78.6 ml (95 % CI: -114.3, -42·8) decrease in FVC and FEV1, respectively. DISCUSSION Increased periods of solar and geomagnetic activity may directly contribute to impaired pulmonary function and also enhance effects of PM2.5 and BC. Since exposure to solar activity is ubiquitous, stricter measures in reducing air pollution exposures are warranted, particularly in elderly populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kritika Anand
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Heath, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Carolina L Z Vieira
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Heath, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eric Garshick
- Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep, and Critical Care Medicine Section, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Veronica Wang
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Heath, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Annelise Blomberg
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Heath, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Diane R Gold
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Heath, Boston, MA, USA; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joel Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Heath, Boston, MA, USA; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pantel Vokonas
- VA Normative Aging Study, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System and the Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Petros Koutrakis
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Heath, Boston, MA, USA
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Schiff JE, Vieira CLZ, Garshick E, Wang V, Blomberg A, Gold DR, Schwartz J, Tracy SM, Vokonas P, Koutrakis P. The role of solar and geomagnetic activity in endothelial activation and inflammation in the NAS cohort. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0268700. [PMID: 35881632 PMCID: PMC9321765 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the associations between solar and geomagnetic activity and circulating biomarkers of systemic inflammation and endothelial activation in the Normative Aging Study (NAS) cohort. Mixed effects models with moving day averages from day 0 to day 28 were used to study the associations between solar activity (sunspot number (SSN), interplanetary magnetic field (IMF)), geomagnetic activity (planetary K index (Kp index), and various inflammatory and endothelial markers. Biomarkers included intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), C-reactive protein (CRP), and fibrinogen. After adjusting for demographic and meteorological variables, we observed significant positive associations between sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 concentrations and solar and geomagnetic activity parameters: IMF, SSN, and Kp. Additionally, a negative association was observed between fibrinogen and Kp index and a positive association was observed for CRP and SSN. These results demonstrate that solar and geomagnetic activity might be upregulating endothelial activation and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E. Schiff
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Heath, Boston, MA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Carolina L. Z. Vieira
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Heath, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Eric Garshick
- Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep, and Critical Care Medicine Section, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Veronica Wang
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Heath, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Annelise Blomberg
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Heath, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Diane R. Gold
- Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Professor of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Joel Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Heath, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Samantha M. Tracy
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Heath, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Pantel Vokonas
- VA Normative Aging Study, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System and the Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Petros Koutrakis
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Heath, Boston, MA, United States of America
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Zilli Vieira CL, Link MS, Garshick E, Peralta AA, Luttmann-Gibson H, Laden F, Liu M, Gold DR, Koutrakis P. Solar and geomagnetic activity enhance the effects of air pollutants on atrial fibrillation. Europace 2021; 24:713-720. [PMID: 34791174 DOI: 10.1093/europace/euab269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Cardiac arrhythmias have been associated with intense solar and geomagnetic activity (SGA) and exposures to air pollution. METHODS We examined whether oscillations of SGA can modify the effect of hourly exposures to air pollutants on atrial fibrillation ≥30 s (AF) risk in patients with dual-chamber implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. The effects of SGA on ambient particulate matter <2.5 µm (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), ultrafine particles (PN), and associations with AF were assessed. Measures of SGA included solar wind proton density (SW), total interplanetary magnetic field strength (IMF), and Kp index, a measure of global geomagnetic activity. RESULTS Overall time lags between 0 and 24 h, periods of increased SGA (>50th percentile in IMF, SW, and Kp index) enhanced the effects of all three air pollutants on AF, while during periods of reduced SGA the associations were considerably weaker or absent. During periods of intense SW 6 h prior to an AF event, the odds ratio (OR) for PM2.5 exposure per interquartile range (IQR) of 5.6 µg/m3 was 1.7 [95% confident interval (CI) 1.3-2.3, P = 0.0001]. For periods of reduced SW, the OR for PM2.5 exposure per IQR was 1.2 (95% CI 0.9-1.5; P = 0.27). There were similar effects for PN and BC exposures. In patients with multiple AF events per hour, the associations with air pollutants during intense SGA were even greater. CONCLUSION The effects of air pollutants up to 24 h before AF events were enhanced during periods of increased SGA. Our results suggest that these effects may account for variation in AF risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina L Zilli Vieira
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Mark S Link
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines BLVD, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Eric Garshick
- Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine Section, VA Boston Healthcare System, 150S Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02130, USA.,Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Adjani A Peralta
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Heike Luttmann-Gibson
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Francine Laden
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.,Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Man Liu
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Diane R Gold
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.,Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Petros Koutrakis
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
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Zilli Vieira CL, Koutrakis P. The impact of solar activity on ambient ultrafine particle concentrations: An analysis based on 19-year measurements in Boston, USA. Environ Res 2021; 201:111532. [PMID: 34166658 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Solar radiation plays a major role in atmospheric photochemistry, contributing to the formation and growth of ultrafine particles (PN). PN affect global Earth's radiation balance, climate system, and human health. However, the impact of solar activity on ambient PN remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the associations between daily ambient PN concentrations [particle number (PN)/cm3] and solar radio flux [solar activity index (F10.7 in sfu)] as a solar activity parameter, shortwave solar radiation (SWR), daylight time (DL), cosmic ray-induced ionization (CRII), and air pollution [PM2.5, black carbon (BC) and SO2] over a 19-year period in Boston, MA. We used generalized additive models adjusted for local environmental conditions. We found that F10.7 was the strongest predictor for daily PN concentrations over all time lags (0-28 days of lags) and seasons. The effects were higher in winter and fall. In winter, an interquartile (IQR) of 60 sfu F10.7 corresponded to an increase of 5770 PN/cm3 in the day of PN collection. In fall, an IQR of 75.5 sfu F10.7 was associated with an increase of 5429 PN/cm3. The effects of F10.7 on PN concentrations were slightly greater when the models were adjusted for air pollution. In summer, ambient PN concentrations were statistically significantly associated with F10.7, SWR, and BC, with the strongest association found for PN and BC in the day of PN collection. Unlike the effects of F10.7, SWR and local pollutants on PN concentrations, DL and CRII were negatively associated with ambient PN in the analyses. These findings suggest that solar activity may have a significant impact on daily ambient PN concentrations that affect the Earth's climate system and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina L Zilli Vieira
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, 401 Park Drive, Landmark Center 4 West (HSPH), Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Petros Koutrakis
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, 401 Park Drive, Landmark Center 4 West (HSPH), Boston, MA, 02215, USA
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Zenchenko TA, Breus TK. The Possible Effect of Space Weather Factors on Various Physiological Systems of the Human Organism. Atmosphere 2021; 12:346. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos12030346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A systematic review of heliobiological studies of the last 25 years devoted to the study of the potential influence of space weather factors on human health and well-being was carried out. We proposed three criteria (coordinates), according to which the work on solar–biospheric relations was systematized: the time scale of data sampling (years, days, hours, minutes); the level of organization of the biological system under study (population, group, individual, body system); and the degree of system response (norm, adaptation, failure of adaptation (illness), disaster (death)). This systematic review demonstrates that three parameters mentioned above are closely related in the existing heliobiological studies: the larger the selected time scale, the higher the level of estimated biological system organization and the stronger the potential response degree is. The long-term studies are devoted to the possible influence of solar activity on population disasters, i.e., significant increases in morbidity and mortality. On a daily scale, a probable effect of geomagnetic storms and other space weather events on short-term local outbreaks of morbidity is shown as well as on cases of deterioration in people functional state. On an intraday scale, in the regular functioning mode, the heart and brain rhythms of healthy people turn to be synchronized with geomagnetic field variations in some frequency ranges, which apparently is the necessary organism’s existence element. The applicability of different space weather indices at different data sampling rates, the need to take into account the contribution of meteorological factors, and the prospects for an individual approach in heliobiology are discussed. The modern important results of experiments on modeling the action of magnetic storms in laboratory conditions and the substantiation of possible theoreical mechanisms are described. These results provide an experimental and theoretical basis for studies of possible connections of space weather and human health.
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