Title: Moderate increases in ambient PM2.5 and ozone are associated with lung function decreases in beach lifeguards.

Authors: Thaller, Ephraim I; Petronella, Sharon A; Hochman, Dan; Howard, Shawn; Chhikara, Raj S; Brooks, Edward G

Published In J Occup Environ Med, (2008 Feb)

Abstract: Exposure to pollutants would adversely affect lung function of healthy athletes.Pulmonary function was recorded on beach lifeguards at three different times during the day. Daily and average peak pollutant levels were calculated. Linear regression analyses were made comparing lung function changes in response to pollutant levels. A multivariate model was constructed to explain the combined effects of pollutants.Afternoon forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expired volume in 1 second (FEV1) decreased significantly compared with morning values and decreased with increasing fine particulates (PM2.5). FEV1/FVC decreased with increasing ozone (O3) levels.The deleterious effect of PM2.5 and O3 were transient and occurred at pollutant levels far below national standards. At low levels of exposure, PM2.5 was associated with reduced lung volumes, while increasing O3 levels were associated with airway obstruction.

PubMed ID: 18301177

MeSH Terms: Adolescent; Adult; Air Pollutants, Occupational/adverse effects*; Air Pollutants, Occupational/analysis; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume/drug effects*; Health Surveys; Humans; Linear Models; Male; Occupational Exposure/adverse effects*; Occupational Exposure/analysis; Ozone/adverse effects*; Ozone/analysis; Particulate Matter/adverse effects*; Particulate Matter/analysis; Respiratory Function Tests; Seawater; Smoking; Swimming; Texas