skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Inhaled albuterol does not protect against ozone toxicity in nonasthmatic athletes

Journal Article · · Arch. Environ. Health; (United States)

We evaluated the acute prophylactic efficacy of albuterol aerosol in protecting nonasthmatic athletes from the untoward effects of 0.21 ppm ozone (O/sub 3/) on symptoms, pulmonary function, exercise performance, and post-exposure histamine bronchoprovocation. Fifteen trained competitive cyclists participated in a randomized crossover study consisting of double-blinded inhalations of albuterol (180 micrograms) and placebo approximately 30 min prior to heavy continuous exercise (minute ventilation, (VE) greater than or equal to 80 L/min) for 60 min, followed by a maximal sprint (peak VE greater than 140 L/min) until exhaustion. Each subject was exposed randomly to either 0.21 ppm O/sub 3/ or filtered air (FA) during the four single-blinded exposure sessions. Albuterol pretreatment resulted in modest but significant bronchodilation as compared to placebo. However, albuterol did not prevent O/sub 3/-induced respiratory symptoms, decrements in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expired volume in one second (FEV1.0), and maximum midexpiratory flow rate (FEF25-75%), and positive histamine challenges as compared to that with placebo/O/sub 3/. There were no statistically significant differences in the metabolic data or ride times across all drugs and exposures, although the peak VE was significantly lower with O/sub 3/ than FA (142.3 vs. 150.7 L/min, respectively) regardless of drug. The results indicate that acute pretreatment with inhaled albuterol is unable to prevent or ameliorate O/sub 3/-induced symptoms and alterations in pulmonary function and exercise performance. The contribution of beta-adrenergic mechanisms in the acute airway responses to O/sub 3/ appears to be minimal.

OSTI ID:
7024630
Journal Information:
Arch. Environ. Health; (United States), Vol. 43:1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English