Effects of sulfur dioxide exposure on African-American and Caucasian asthmatics
- Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States)
There is concern that air pollution may be causing increases in asthma morbidity and mortality, especially among African-Americans. It is possible that there may be ethnic differences in susceptibility. To evaluate this speculation, a comparative pilot study of respiratory function in 10 African American and 12 Caucasian methacholine positive asthmatic males was conducted. Subjects were exposed to pure air or 1 ppm SO[sub 2] while breathing inside a polycarbonate head dome, for 10 min of rest and 10 min of exercise. Baseline and postexposure pulmonary function measurements were recorded, and nasal lavage fluid samples were collected and processed for epithelial and white blood counts. Although significant increases were seen in total respiratory resistance following SO[sub 2] exposure in both groups (P = 0.04), no ethnic-based difference in response was seen. No significant differences were found in pulmonary or nasal measurements after exposure to SO[sub 2] between African-American and Caucasian subjects. No significant changes in epithelial or white blood cell count were found either when data were analyzed from the entire group or separately from the two subject groups. Even though there were no significant group changes, some individuals were particularly responsive to SO[sub 2]. Three Caucasian and 5 African-American subjects showed greater than 20% increases in respiratory resistance. 26 refs., 2 figs., 3 tabs.
- OSTI ID:
- 6788988
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Progress; (United States), Vol. 66:1; ISSN 0278-4491
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
TOXICITY
ASTHMA
DISEASE INCIDENCE
BLACK AMERICANS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
RESPIRATION
MORTALITY
SULFUR DIOXIDE
CHALCOGENIDES
DISEASES
EVALUATION
HUMAN POPULATIONS
MINORITY GROUPS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POPULATIONS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
540120 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)