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Human exposure to sulfur dioxide and ozone in a high temperature-humidity environment

Journal Article · · Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J.; (United States)

In order to examine the role of high temperature and humidity in the possible synergistic action of ozone and sulfur dioxide on human pulmonary function previously reported by some investigators and repudiated by others, we randomly exposed eight healthy young nonsmokers to filtered air, 0.4 ppm SO/sub 2/, 0.4 ppm 0/sub 3/, and 0.4 ppm SO/sub 2/ plus 0.4 ppm 0/sub 3/. Subjects exercised for 15 minutes of each half hour at a workload sufficient to elicit a minute ventilation of 30 liters (BTPS). Pulmonary function tests were performed prior to, during, and following exposure. Observed alterations in pulmonary functions in the SO/sub 2/ + 0/sub 3/ exposure reflected the changes occurring during the 0/sub 3/ exposure, clearly indicating that no synergistic effects related to the additional presence of SO/sub 2/ were evident in this study. We considered factors suggested as causes for a potential synergism in comparing the conflicting studies on 0/sub 3/ and SO/sub 2/, and suggest that factors other than temperature-humidity and/or sulfate aerosol production must be sought.

Research Organization:
Univ. of California, Santa Barbara
OSTI ID:
7064982
Journal Information:
Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J.; (United States) Vol. 43:1; ISSN AIHAA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English