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

Title: Pulmonary responses of well-characterized asthmatic, atopic, and normal volunteers to sulfur dioxide; Implications for air quality risk assessment

Conference · · Proceedings, Annual Meeting, Air Pollution Control Association; (USA)
OSTI ID:5134140
; ;  [1]
  1. Rancho Los Amigos Hospital, Inc., Downey, CA (USA). Professional Staff Association

Numerous laboratory investigations have shown that sulfur dioxide (SO/sub 2/) induces bronchoconstriction and respiratory symptoms in exercising asthmatics. These effects appear to depend on dose rate (the product of exposure concentration and ventilation rate), and may occur at dose rates attainable during outdoor exercise in SO/sub 2/-polluted communities. Effects are rapid in onset, requiring no more than 5 min of exercise during exposure. Thus they may be induced by transient elevations of SO/sub 2/ levels, which may occur near large pollution sources even when longer-term average concentrations meet existing air quality standards. Even very mild asthmatics typically are far more sensitive to SO/sub 2/ than healthy volunteers. The authors discuss an investigation designed to expand and improve the dose-response information on SO/sub 2/. In comparison to earlier work it employed a larger, clinically more diverse population of volunteer subjects. Comparatively severe, medication-dependent asthmatics were included, whereas most prior studies have been limited to mild asthmatics. All subjects' clinical status was documented in detail, in a manner allowing comparison with the National Health survey of community populations. Each exposure condition was replicated to test consistency of response. Short-term lung function changes and respiratory systems were documented.

OSTI ID:
5134140
Report Number(s):
CONF-870695-; CODEN: PRAPA
Journal Information:
Proceedings, Annual Meeting, Air Pollution Control Association; (USA), Vol. 1; Conference: 80. annual meeting of the Air Pollution Control Association, New York, NY (USA), 21-26 Jun 1987; Other Information: Technical Paper 87-32.8; ISSN 0193-9688
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Short-term respiratory effects of sulfuric acid in fog: a laboratory study of healthy and asthmatic volunteers
Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1988 · J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States) · OSTI ID:5134140

Acid fog: effects on respiratory function and symptoms in healthy and asthmatic volunteers
Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1989 · Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States) · OSTI ID:5134140

Dose-response study of asthmatic volunteers exposed to nitrogen dioxide during intermittent exercise
Journal Article · · Arch. Environ. Health; (United States) · OSTI ID:5134140