The pulmonary response of white and black adults to six concentrations of ozone.

Many early studies of respiratory responsiveness to ozone (O3) were done on healthy, young, white males. The purpose of this study was to determine whether gender or race differences in O3 response exist among white and black, males and females, and to develop concentration-response curves for each of the gender-race groups. Three hundred seventy-two subjects (n > 90 in each gender-race group), ages 18 to 35 yr, were exposed once for 2.33 h to 0.0 (purified air), 0.12, 0.18, 0.24, 0.30, or 0.40 ppm O3. Each exposure was preceded by baseline pulmonary function tests and a symptom questionnaire. The first 2 h of exposure included alternating 15-min periods of rest and exercise on a motorized treadmill producing a minute ventilation (VE) of 25 L/min/m2 body surface area (BSA). After exposure, subjects completed a set of pulmonary function tests and a symptom questionnaire. Lung function and symptom responses were expressed as percent change from baseline and analyzed using a nonparametric two factor analysis of variance. Three primary variables were analyzed: FEV1, specific airway resistance (SRaw), and cough. Statistical analysis demonstrated no significant differences in response to O3 among the individual gender-race groups. For the group as a whole, changes in the variables FEV1, SRaw, and cough were first noted at 0.12, 0.18, and 0.18 ppm O3, respectively. Adjusted for exercise difference, concentration-response curves for FEV1 and cough among white males were consistent with previous reports (1).

Pulmonary effects of ozone exposure during exercise: dose-response characteristics.

Because minimal data are available regarding the pulmonary effects of ozone (O3) at levels less than 0.27 ppm, six groups of healthy young males were exposed for 2.5 h to one of the following O3 concentrations: 0.0, 0.12, 0.18, 0.24, 0.30, or 0.40 ppm. Fifteen-minute periods of rest and exercise (65 l/min minute ventilation) were alternated during the first 2 h of exposure. Coughing was observed at all levels of O3 exposure. Small changes in forced-expiratory spirometric variables [forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s, and mean expiratory flow rate between 25 and 75% FVC] were observed at 0.12 and 0.18 ppm O3, and larger changes were found at O3 levels greater than or equal to 0.24 ppm. Changes in tidal volume and respiratory frequency during exercise, specific airway resistance, the presence of pain on deep inspiration, and shortness of breath occurred at O3 levels greater than or equal to 0.24 ppm. In conclusion, pulmonary effects of O3 were observed at levels much lower than that for which these effects have been previously described. Stimulation of airway receptors is probably the mechanism responsible for the majority of observed changes; however, the existence of a second mechanism of action is postulated.

Effects of 0.1 ppm nitrogen dioxide on airways of normal and asthmatic subjects.

It has been reported (J. Clin. Invest. 57: 301-307, 1976) that inhalation of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) will enhance the bronchial reactivity of asthmatics. This study was designed to evaluate the respiratory effect of a 1-h exposure of normal subjects and of atopic asthmatics to 0.1 parts per million (ppm) NO2. Fifteen normal and 15 asthmatic subjects were exposed to air and to NO2 in a randomized double-blind crossover design. Exposure to either atmosphere was bracketed by bronchial inhalation challenge using aerosolized metacholine chloride solutions. Plethysmographic measurements of specific airway resistance (sRaw) and the forced random noise impedance spectrum (5-30 Hz) were obtained immediately after each methacholine dose. Following acute exposure to NO2, there was a slight but not significant increase in mean base-line sRaw in both normals and asthmatics. The overall base-line resistive properties of the respiratory system determined by forced random noise excitation were not significantly affected by NO2 inhalation either. Finally, there was no change in bronchial response to methacholine challenge in either group. These findings indicate that 0.1 ppm NO2 exposure for 1 h without exercise had no demonstrable airways effects in either young atopic asthmatics with mild disease or young normal subjects.