Respiratory response of humans exposed to low levels of ozone for 6. 6 hours

Technical Report · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:5318068

McDonnell, W F; Kehrl, H R; Abdul-Salaam, S; Ives, P J; Folinsbee, L J

Recent evidence suggests that prolonged exposures of exercising men to 0.08 ppm ozone (O3) result in significant decrements in lung function, induction of respiratory symptoms, and increases in nonspecific airway reactivity. The purpose of the study was to confirm or refute these findings by exposing 38 healthy young men to 0.08 ppm (O3) for 6.6 h. During exposure, subjects performed exercise for a total of 5 h, which required a minute ventilation of 40 l/min. Significant (O3)-induced decrements were observed for forced vital capacity (FVC, -0.25 1), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(sub 1.0), -0.35 l), and mean expiratory flow rate between 25% and 75% of FVC (FEF(sub 25-75), -0.57 l/s), and significant increases were observed in airway reactivity (35%), specific airway resistance (0.77 cm H2O/s), and respiratory symptoms. These results essentially confirm previous findings. A large range in individual responses was noted (e.g., percentage change in FEV(sub 1.0): 4% increase to 38% decrease). Responses also appeared to be nonlinear in time under these experimental conditions.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (United States). Health Effects Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 5318068
• Report Number(s): PB-91-200311/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
DISEASES
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
EXERCISE
MAMMALS
MAN
METABOLISM
OZONE
PRIMATES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SENSITIVITY
SYMPTOMS
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES