Pulmonary function changes in children associated with fine particulate matter

Journal Article · Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Environmental Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1006/enrs.1993.1123· OSTI ID:5728530

Koenig, J Q; Larson, T V; Hanley, Q S; Rebolledo, V; Dumler, K; Checkoway, H; Wang, S Z; Lin, D; Pierson, W E ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Washington, Seattle (United States)

During winter months many neighborhoods in the Seattle metropolitan area are heavily affected by particulate matter from residential wood burning. A study was conducted to investigate the relationship between fine particulate matter and pulmonary function in young children. The subjects were 326 elementary school children, including 24 asthmatics, who lived in an area with high particulate concentrations predominantly from residential wood burning. FEV1 and FVC were measured before, during and after the 1988-1989 and 1989-1990 winter heating seasons. Fine particulate matter was assessed using a light-scattering instrument. Analysis of the relationship between light scattering and lung function indicated that an increase in particulate air pollution was associated with a decline in asthmatic children's pulmonary function. FEV1 and FVC in the asthmatic children dropped an average of 34 and 37 ml respectively for each 10(-4) m-1 increase in sigma sp. This sigma sp increase corresponds to an increase in PM2.5 of 20 micrograms/m3. It is concluded that fine particulate matter from wood burning is significantly associated with acute respiratory irritation in young asthmatic children.

• OSTI ID: 5728530
• Journal Information: Environmental Research; (United States), Vol. 63:1; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CHILDREN
ASTHMA
PARTICULATES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
RESPIRATION
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
WOOD BURNING APPLIANCES
HEATING
AIR POLLUTION
STOVES
WASHINGTON
WOOD
AGE GROUPS
APPLIANCES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISEASES
EQUIPMENT
FUNCTIONS
NORTH AMERICA
PARTICLES
POLLUTION
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
USA
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology