Effects of air pollution on changes in lung function induced by exercise in children with chronic respiratory symptoms. Issue 2 (1st February 2002)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Timonen, K L; Pekkanen, J; Tiittanen, P; Salonen, R O
• Is Part Of: Occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 59:Issue 2(2002)
• Page Start: 129
• Page End: 134
• Publication Date: 2002-02-01
• Subjects: air pollution -- lung function -- exercise; BS, black smoke -- O3, ozone -- PM10, particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter <10 μm -- PEACE, pollution effects on asthmatic children in Europe -- FVC, forced vital capacity -- FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second -- MMEF, mid-maximal expiratory flow -- AEFV, area under the expiratory flow-volume curve -- PNC, particle number concentrations -- OECD, Organisation for Economic Cooperation; Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; 616.980305
• DOI: 10.1136/oem.59.2.129
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1351-0711

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To investigate how daily variations in ambient air pollution, especially in particles, during the cold of winter affect repeated measurements of baseline lung function and exercise induced bronchial responsiveness among primary school children with chronic respiratory symptoms. Methods: During alternate school weeks (mamimum five) from February to April 1994, 33 children took part in exercise challenge tests (n=141 tests). The exercise challenges were conducted outdoors in a school yard in the centre of Kuopio, Finland. Spirometric lung functions were measured indoors before the exercise, and 3 and 10 minutes after. Daily mean concentrations of PM10, black smoke (BS), NO2, CO, SO2, and particle size and numbers were monitored at a nearby fixed monitoring site. Results: Daily variations in ambient air pollution were not associated with enhanced bronchial responsiveness. However, increased concentrations of BS, PM10, particle numbers, NO2, and CO were consistently associated with an impairment of baseline lung functions. The reductions in forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1 ) were 0.5% and 0.6%, respectively, for each 10 μg/m 3 increase in BS (lag 2). Conclusion: Particles derived from combustion affect baseline lung function rather than bronchial responsiveness among children with chronic respiratory symptoms.