Acute Exposure to Diesel: Prolong Effects on Inflammation and Vasculature

Cross-over double-blind study. Healthy subjects will be exposed to diesel exhaust fumes and/or filtered air during a 2-hour session. Several parameters will be assesed i.e. endothelial function will be assessed with flow mediated dilation (FMD) techniques, arterial stiffness with pulse wave velocity (PWV) and reflected waves with augmentation index (AIx). C reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, protein C levels and protein S activity will be also measured. Heart rate variability and standard deviation of normal to normal intervals R-R intervals (SDNN) will be used to assess sympathetic activity. Measurements were assessed before, 2 and 24 hours after diesel exposure.