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Updated: Feb 15, 2026
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Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control
Published on: September 11, 2019
10.1K
Acute diesel exhaust exposure and postural stability: a controlled crossover experiment
Jason Curran1,2, Rachel Cliff1,2, Nadine Sinnen3
1School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2206 E Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z9 Canada.
Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology (London, England)
|January 18, 2018
Summary
Exposure to diesel exhaust (DE) showed a trend toward reduced postural stability in healthy adults, though not statistically significant. This study is the first to examine DE effects on human balance using the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS).
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Neuroscience
- Toxicology
Background:
- Epidemiological studies link air pollutants to neurobehavioral effects.
- Animal models show diesel exhaust (DE) exposure can cause neuroinflammation and affect balance.
- Human studies on DE's impact on balance are lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of controlled diesel exhaust (DE) exposure on postural stability in healthy human adults.
- To assess changes in balance using the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) after DE exposure.
Main Methods:
- A double-blinded, randomized crossover study with 28 healthy subjects.
- Subjects were exposed to filtered air (FA) and DE (300 μg PM2.5/m3) for 120 minutes.
- Postural stability was measured using the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) before and after each exposure.
Main Results:
- A trend of reduced postural stability was observed following diesel exhaust (DE) exposure.
- The association between DE exposure and BESS scores was not statistically significant.
- This is the first human study to assess postural stability changes after DE exposure.
Conclusions:
- Controlled exposure to diesel exhaust (DE) may impact postural stability in humans.
- Further research is needed to confirm the effects of DE on balance and neurobehavioral outcomes.
- Understanding DE's neurotoxic effects is crucial for public health.
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