Effects of Peroxyacetyl Nitrate Alone and in Combination with Ozone in Healthy Young Women

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Abstract
Metabolic and pulmonary functions were investigated in 10 nonsmoking, young adult women who were exposed for 2 h (21 °C WBGT) to four conditions: 1) filtered air (FA), 2) 0.27 ppm peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN), 3) 0.48 ppm ozone (O3), and 4) 0.48 ppm O3 + 0.27 ppm PAN (PAN/O3). The subjects alternated 15-min periods of rest and 20-min periods of bicycle ergometer exercise eliciting a of 25 L. Functional residual capacity (FRC) was determined preand post-exposure. Forced vital capacity (FVC) was determined before and after exposure, as well as 5 min after each exercise period. Heart rate was monitored throughout the exposure, and metabolic functions were measured during the last 2 min of each exercise period. There were no changes in any variable consequent to FA or PAN exposure. During O3 and PAN/O3 exposures, a decrease in V T, a concomitant increase in f R, and no change in occurred. Both O3 and PAN/O3 induced significant (p < 0.05) decrements in FVC, FEV1.0, FEV2.0, FEV3.0, FEF25-75%, IC, ERV, and TLC, but following PAN/O3 exposure the decrements were 10 percent greater. The results suggest an interactive effect between PAN and O3. A comparison of data from this study and a similar study on men exercising at equivalent V E found no difference in the pulmonary responses to the pollutants between men and women.