Responses to sulfur dioxide and exercise by medication-depend asthmatics: Effect of varying medication levels

Journal Article · · Archives of Environmental Health; (USA)

OSTI ID:6905258

Linn, W S; Shamoo, D A; Peng, R C; Clark, K W; Avol, E L; Hackney, J D ^[1]

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1. Univ. of. Southern California, Downey (USA)

Twenty-one volunteers with moderate to severe asthma were exposed to sulfur dioxide (SO{sub 2}) at concentrations of O (control), 0.3, and 0.6 ppm in each of three medication states: (1) low (much of their usual asthma medication withheld), (2) normal (each subject on his own usual medication schedule), and (3) high (usual medication supplemented by inhaled metaproterenol before exposure). Theophylline, the medication usually taken by subjects, was often supplemented by beta-adrenergics. Exposures were for 10 min and were accompanied by continuous heavy exercise (ventilation {approximately} 50 1/min). Lung function and symptoms were measured before and after exposure. With normal medication, symptomatic bronchoconstriction occurred with exercise and was exacerbated by 0.6 ppm SO{sub 2}, as reported for mildly unmedicated asthmatics studied previously. Both baseline and post-exposure lung function were noticeably worse in the low-medication state. High medication improved baseline lung function and prevented most broncho-constrictive effect of SO{sup 2}/exercise. High medication also increased heart rate and apparently induced tremor or nervousness in some individuals.

• OSTI ID: 6905258
• Journal Information: Archives of Environmental Health; (USA), Journal Name: Archives of Environmental Health; (USA) Vol. 45:1; ISSN 0003-9896; ISSN AEHLA
• 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.
ASTHMA
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
BODY
CHALCOGENIDES
DISEASES
DRUGS
EXERCISE
FUNCTIONS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
LUNGS
ORGANS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES