ABSTRACT
In an epidemiological field survey of CNSLD 1800 men and women aged 15-64 were studied in a rural area and an industrial area. In each person a standardized interview, lung function tests, cardiac examinations, analysis of the phlegm and chest X-ray were performed. The interview conducted with the standard questionnaire gives very good information regarding chronic effects of smoking and atmospheric pollution. Spirometry seems to be a sensitive method for registering an acute disturbances caused by air pollution.
Subject(s)
Air Pollution , Lung Diseases/diagnosis , Rural Health , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Humans , Lung Diseases/epidemiology , Male , Netherlands , Respiratory Function Tests , Smoking/complicationsSubject(s)
Air Pollutants/adverse effects , Lung Diseases, Obstructive/chemically induced , Absenteeism , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Forced Expiratory Volume , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Lung Diseases, Obstructive/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Netherlands , Rural Population , Sampling Studies , Urban Population , Vital CapacitySubject(s)
Air Pollution , Lung Diseases/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Humans , Lung Diseases/etiology , Male , Middle Aged , NetherlandsABSTRACT
During a short period of increased air pollution in a polluted area in the Netherlands, a majority of the inhabitants showed a lower VC and FEV1 value than during a period of extremely low pollution. This may be due to a temporary decrease in the ventilatory function in response to a temporary increase in air pollution. Persons who showed the greatest "decrease" in the VC and/or FEV1 had a slightly higher prevalence of chronic non-specific lung disease (CNSLD) than did those who had a slight or no decrease in VC and FEV1. The studies will be continued in order to determine whether the groups will show different repiratory disease patterns in the future. In studies on long-term effects of exposure to air pollution, one must consider the possibility that short-term effects may influence the results of the lung function measurements. It is always important, therefore, to include a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms in such studies, since it is unlikely that short periods of air pollution influence the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms.
