Asthmatic responses to airborne acid aerosols

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · American Journal of Public Health; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.81.6.694· OSTI ID:5733981

Ostro, B D; Lipsett, M J; Wiener, M B; Selner, J C ^[1]

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1. California Department of Health Services, Berkeley (USA)

Controlled exposure studies suggest that asthmatics may be more sensitive to the respiratory effects of acidic aerosols than individuals without asthma. This study investigates whether acidic aerosols and other air pollutants are associated with respiratory symptoms in free-living asthmatics. Daily concentrations of hydrogen ion (H+), nitric acid, fine particulates, sulfates and nitrates were obtained during an intensive air monitoring effort in Denver, Colorado, in the winter of 1987-88. A panel of 207 asthmatics recorded respiratory symptoms, frequency of medication use, and related information in daily diaries. We used a multiple regression time-series model to analyze which air pollutants, if any, were associated with health outcomes reported by study participants. Airborne H+ was found to be significantly associated with several indicators of asthma status, including moderate or severe cough and shortness of breath. Cough was also associated with fine particulates, and shortness of breath with sulfates. Incorporating the participants' time spent outside and exercise intensity into the daily measure of exposure strengthened the association between these pollutants and asthmatic symptoms. Nitric acid and nitrates were not significantly associated with any respiratory symptom analyzed. In this population of asthmatics, several outdoor air pollutants, particularly airborne acidity, were associated with daily respiratory symptoms.

• OSTI ID: 5733981
• Journal Information: American Journal of Public Health; (USA), Vol. 81:6; ISSN 0090-0036
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COLORADO
AIR POLLUTION
HYDROGEN IONS
TOXICITY
NITRATES
NITRIC ACID
PARTICULATES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SENSITIVITY
SULFATES
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
ASTHMA
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
SYMPTOMS
TIME-SERIES ANALYSIS
CHARGED PARTICLES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISEASES
FEDERAL REGION VIII
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
IONS
MATHEMATICS
MONITORING
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
POLLUTION
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
USA
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
540120 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)