Author Information

Aidan Daniel Anton McCloyFollow

Presentation Type

Presentation

Faculty Mentor’s Full Name

John C Quindry

Faculty Mentor’s Department

Integrative School of Physiology and Athletic Training

Abstract / Artist's Statement

As the prevalence of woodsmoke exposure from wildfires increases in the western US population, so does the need to understand the long-term deleterious effects of smoke exposure. In addition to strenuous physical activity while exposed to woodsmoke, populations such as wildland firefighters may operate under sleep-deprived conditions. To this end, our laboratory studied the combined effects of smoke exposure, exercise, and sleep deprivation by measuring vascular inflammation, differential gene expression, heart rate variability, pulse wave velocity, and pulmonary function both before and after a 45-minute stationary bike workout. The focus of this analysis was to evaluate forced vital capacity (FVC), percentage of air expired within the first second (FEV1, and as a ratio of total expired volume in FEV1%), and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) as it relates to variable sleep durations before exercise with woodsmoke exposure.

Ten recreationally active male participants (age = 24±4 yrs.; height = 185.2±3.9 cm; weight = 85.7±9.4 kg; VO2max = 46.8.7±.7 ml∙min¯¹∙kg¯¹; body fat = 12.6±6.7 %) performed two separate 45-minute stationary bicycle workouts at resistances equivalent to 70% of their VO2 max. During both trials, participants were exposed to 250μg/m3 of woodsmoke transferred from a woodburning stove to a facemask covering the nose and mouth worn while riding. One trial was performed on 8 hours of sleep (control) and the other on 4 hours of sleep (sleep-deprived). Duplicate pulmonary data (FVC, FEV1%, MVV) was taken before and after each workout using SpirobankG spirometers and the WindspiroPRO software.

A two way ANOVA analysis of the results showed no statistically significant differences between trials (pre1 vs pre2, post 1 vs post 2) or within trials (pre1 vs post1, pre2 vs post2). These results are consistent with the literature. Under the given conditions, no measurable acute pulmonary response is seen in otherwise healthy individuals when exposed to woodsmoke during exercise. Additionally, acute sleep deprivation does not alter these findings. However, other physiological reponses may be at play under these conditions. Accordingly, further studies into other biological responses to exercise, woodsome exposure and sleep deprivation may yield knowledge beneficial to intercepting chronic health detriments in wildland firefighter populations.

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Apr 22nd, 2:00 PM Apr 22nd, 2:20 PM

Pulmonary Response to Exercise, Woodsmoke Smoke Inhalation, and Acute Sleep Deprivation

UC 326

As the prevalence of woodsmoke exposure from wildfires increases in the western US population, so does the need to understand the long-term deleterious effects of smoke exposure. In addition to strenuous physical activity while exposed to woodsmoke, populations such as wildland firefighters may operate under sleep-deprived conditions. To this end, our laboratory studied the combined effects of smoke exposure, exercise, and sleep deprivation by measuring vascular inflammation, differential gene expression, heart rate variability, pulse wave velocity, and pulmonary function both before and after a 45-minute stationary bike workout. The focus of this analysis was to evaluate forced vital capacity (FVC), percentage of air expired within the first second (FEV1, and as a ratio of total expired volume in FEV1%), and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) as it relates to variable sleep durations before exercise with woodsmoke exposure.

Ten recreationally active male participants (age = 24±4 yrs.; height = 185.2±3.9 cm; weight = 85.7±9.4 kg; VO2max = 46.8.7±.7 ml∙min¯¹∙kg¯¹; body fat = 12.6±6.7 %) performed two separate 45-minute stationary bicycle workouts at resistances equivalent to 70% of their VO2 max. During both trials, participants were exposed to 250μg/m3 of woodsmoke transferred from a woodburning stove to a facemask covering the nose and mouth worn while riding. One trial was performed on 8 hours of sleep (control) and the other on 4 hours of sleep (sleep-deprived). Duplicate pulmonary data (FVC, FEV1%, MVV) was taken before and after each workout using SpirobankG spirometers and the WindspiroPRO software.

A two way ANOVA analysis of the results showed no statistically significant differences between trials (pre1 vs pre2, post 1 vs post 2) or within trials (pre1 vs post1, pre2 vs post2). These results are consistent with the literature. Under the given conditions, no measurable acute pulmonary response is seen in otherwise healthy individuals when exposed to woodsmoke during exercise. Additionally, acute sleep deprivation does not alter these findings. However, other physiological reponses may be at play under these conditions. Accordingly, further studies into other biological responses to exercise, woodsome exposure and sleep deprivation may yield knowledge beneficial to intercepting chronic health detriments in wildland firefighter populations.