Effects of prolonged, sequential exposure to acid fog and ozone on pulmonary function in exercising, normal subjects. Final report, 28 Feb 89-28 Dec 90

Technical Report · Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:5185833

Balmes, J

Thirty-nine apparently healthy and asymptomatic subjects were selected for a study that screened for sensitivity to ozone. After three hours of ozone exposure (at 0.20 ppm), eighteen of the subjects (46 percent) experienced a 10 percent reduction in forced expiratory volume, an indicator of exhaling ability. After four hours of exposure, 62 percent of the subjects experienced a similar reduction in expiratory volume. Further, narrowing of airways among the sensitive subjects was suggested by results of the methacholine challenge test, a standard test for measuring airway resistance. The lung capacity of all subjects decreased progressively during ozone exposures. Capacity was unchanged during acidic fog and pollutant-free air exposures. No statistically significant differences in airway resistance, airway responsiveness and symptoms that could be attributed to acid fog exposure were observed. The study indicates that exposue to fog containing nitric acid followed by exposure to ozone does not have additive or synergistic acute effects. However, the study confirms earlier indications that many apparently healthy and asymptomatic individuals are susceptible to and adversely affected by ozone at relatively low concentrations.

• Research Organization: California Univ., San Francisco, CA (United States). Lung Biology Center
• OSTI ID: 5185833
• Report Number(s): PB-91-231621/XAB; CNN: A833-078
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Sponsored by California State Air Resources Board, Sacramento. Research Div
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
NITRIC ACID
TOXICITY
OZONE
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SENSITIVITY
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
EXERCISE
FOG
INHALATION
MAN
ANIMALS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
INTAKE
MAMMALS
PRIMATES
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology