Exposure to particulate matters may raise level of stress hormones

A team from Shanghai-based Fudan University has confirmed PM2.5 does nobody any good.

The Fudan researchers announced on Wednesday that their research had found exposure to ambient particulate matters may increase level of stress hormones in human bodies.

They added their research offers potential insights into the mechanisms involving adverse health outcomes caused by PM, tiny particles in the air that are hazardous to health.

Convincing epidemiological evidence suggests that exposure to higher levels of ambient particulate matters, especially those with aerodynamic diameters less than 2.5 micrometers, may have adverse cardiovascular and metabolic consequences such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, and diabetes mellitus, the researchers found. 

The team led by Kan Haidong, a professor at the university's School of Public Health, conducted a study with 55 healthy college students to investigate changes in their serum metabolites in response to exposure reduction of PM2.5, which has been well-documented for adverse cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes. 

The study demonstrated short-term reductions in stress hormones following indoor air purification.

It showed that higher exposure to PM2.5 led to significant increases in cortisol, cortisone, epinephrine, and norepinephrine.

It also found significantly higher blood pressure, hormones, insulin resistance, and "biomarkers of oxidative stress" and inflammation among individuals exposed to higher PM2.5 concentration.