EFFECTS OF SHORT-TERM EXPOSURE TO AMBIENT NITROGEN-DIOXIDE CONCENTRATIONS ON HUMAN BRONCHIAL REACTIVITY AND LUNG-FUNCTION

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 66  (3) , 205-217
Abstract
Eight normal and 8 asthmatic subjects were exposed to NO2 in a modified body box for plethysmography during 20 min, at 0.230, 460 and 910 .mu.g/m3 on 4 separate days. Bronchial reactivity histamine inhalation test was measured after exposure to air alone and to 910 .mu.g/m3NO2. Airway resistance (Raw), thoracic gas volume (TGV) and specific airway resistance (SRaw) were measured before, during and after exposure. The bronchial reactivity of the asthmatic subjects increased significantly (P = 0.04) by 20 min exposure to 910 .mu.g/m3 NO2. In the non-asthmatic group, the airway resistance increased significantly (P = 0.03) after 20 min exposure to 460 .mu.g/m3 NO2, and decreased significantly (P = 0.01) after 20 min exposure to 910 .mu.g/m3 NO2. In the asthmatic group, the trend in airway resistance was the same, but was not statistically significant. In the latter group, TGV was significantly decreased (P = 0.02) during exposure to 910 .mu.g/m3 NO2. Short term NO2-exposure in concentrations even < 1000 .mu.g/m3 seems to have effects on human bronchial reactivity and lung function.