Human exposure to sulfur dioxide and ozone: absence of a synergistic effect

Journal Article · Sun Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · Arch. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1979.10667405· OSTI ID:5615385

Bedi, J F; Folinsbee, L J; Horvath, S M; Ebenstein, R S

Studies of the human health effects of exposure to a combination of ozone and sulfur dioxide have produced somewhat conflicting results; the possibility of a synergistic enhancement of toxicity when the two gases are present simultaneously remains equivocal. We evaluated the effects of 0.40 ppM sulfur dioxide, 0.40 ppM ozone, and the combination of these two under one environmental condition (25/sup 0/C and 45% relative humidity). Subjects alternately walked and rested during a 2-hr exposure. Subjects exposed to filtered air or to 0.40 ppM sulfur dioxide showed no significant changes in pulmonary function. When exposed to either ozone or ozone plus sulfur dioxide, significant decreases in maximum expiratory flow, forced vital capacity, and inspiratory capacity were observed. There were no significant differences in response between ozone alone and ozone plus sulfur dioxide exposures; thus, in our subjects no synergistic effects were discernible.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Santa Barbara
• OSTI ID: 5615385
• Journal Information: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States) Vol. 34:4; ISSN AEHLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

551000 -- Physiological Systems
560306* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
ANIMALS
CHALCOGENIDES
DYNAMIC FUNCTION STUDIES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INHALATION
INTAKE
MAMMALS
MAN
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
SYNERGISM
VERTEBRATES