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M Ciarrocca

Publications and source records attributed to M Ciarrocca.

3 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Respiratory and cardiovascular function at rest and during exercise testing in a healthy working population: effects of outdoor traffic air pollution.

BACKGROUND: There is controversy regarding long-term adverse effects of urban pollutants in urban workers. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of urban pollutants on respiratory and cardiovascular function in exposed traffic policemen compared to a control group. METHODS: Sixty-eight traffic policemen and 62 controls (all male) were investigated at rest and during symptom-limited incremental exercise test (performed with a cycle ergometer). The data were statistically evaluated. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the mean values of resting ventilatory capacity, the forced spirometric test, or in blood gas parameters between the groups. The traffic exposed group demonstrated a number of significant changes in cardiorespiratory measures on exercise testing. Twenty-six traffic policemen and none of the controls experienced exercise-induced ECG abnormalities, hypertension or oxyhaemoglobin desaturation; 80% of the 26 had resting PaO(2) values <80 mmHg. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that chronic occupational exposure to urban pollutants reduces resistance to physical effort and increases the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory changes including slight hypoxemia.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Agricultural work: noise exposure and cardiovascular effects].

Aim of the study was to assess cardiovascular effects in the farmers exposed to noise. We assessed two samples of 143 farmers using tactor (mean age 51.0 +/- 10.5 years, length of service 33.0 +/- 10.5 years) and 193 farmers not exposed to noise (controls) (mean age 48.3 +/- 13.7 years, length of service 30.6 +/- 14.7 years). After the phonometric measurements all farmers were undergone to a medical examination, measurements of blood pressure, a audiometric test and a electrocardiogram. The collected data show an increased prevalence of hypertension and electrocardiographic anomalies in farmers exposed to noise (systolic hypertension n. 53, 37.1%; diastolic hypertension n. 60, 42.0%; electrocardiographic anomalies n. 44; 30.8%) compared to the control group (systolic hypertension n. 23, 16.1%; diastolic hypertension n. 26, 18.2%; electrocardiographic anomalies n. 5; 3.5%) (systolic hypertension p = 0.002; diastolic hypertension p = 0.003; electrocardiographic anomalies p = 0.030). Our results could be taken to mean that there are effects of chronic exposure to noise on cardiovascular apparatus; this would stimulate the screening programmes for farmers.

Agriculture↗