Responses to sulfur dioxide and exercise by medication-depend asthmatics: Effect of varying medication levels

Journal Article · · Archives of Environmental Health; (USA)

OSTI ID:6905258

Linn, W S; Shamoo, D A; Peng, R C; Clark, K W; Avol, E L; Hackney, J D ^[1]

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1. Univ. of. Southern California, Downey (USA)

Twenty-one volunteers with moderate to severe asthma were exposed to sulfur dioxide (SO{sub 2}) at concentrations of O (control), 0.3, and 0.6 ppm in each of three medication states: (1) low (much of their usual asthma medication withheld), (2) normal (each subject on his own usual medication schedule), and (3) high (usual medication supplemented by inhaled metaproterenol before exposure). Theophylline, the medication usually taken by subjects, was often supplemented by beta-adrenergics. Exposures were for 10 min and were accompanied by continuous heavy exercise (ventilation {approximately} 50 1/min). Lung function and symptoms were measured before and after exposure. With normal medication, symptomatic bronchoconstriction occurred with exercise and was exacerbated by 0.6 ppm SO{sub 2}, as reported for mildly unmedicated asthmatics studied previously. Both baseline and post-exposure lung function were noticeably worse in the low-medication state. High medication improved baseline lung function and prevented most broncho-constrictive effect of SO{sup 2}/exercise. High medication also increased heart rate and apparently induced tremor or nervousness in some individuals.

• OSTI ID: 6905258
• Journal Information: Archives of Environmental Health; (USA), Vol. 45:1; ISSN 0003-9896
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
EXERCISE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
HEALTH HAZARDS
ASTHMA
BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
DRUGS
LUNGS
BODY
CHALCOGENIDES
DISEASES
FUNCTIONS
HAZARDS
ORGANS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology