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Biomedical subjects

L J Folinsbee

Publications and source records attributed to L J Folinsbee.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Effects of steady-state and variable ozone concentration profiles on pulmonary function.

Measurements of ambient ozone (O2) concentration during daylight hours have shown a spectrum of concentration profiles, from a relatively stable to a variable pattern usually reaching a peak level in the early afternoon. Several recent studies have suggested that in estimating exposure dose (O3 concentration [C] x exposure time [T] x ventilation [V]), O3 concentration needs to be weighted more heavily than either ventilation or duration of exposure in the estimates. In this study we tested the hypothesis that regardless of concentration pattern and exposure rate the same exposure dose of O3 will induce the same spirometric response. We exposed 23 healthy male volunteers (20 to 35 yr of age) for 8 h to air, 0.12 ppm O3 (steady-state), and a triangular exposure pattern (concentration increased steadily from zero to 0.24 ppm over the first 4 h and decreased back to zero by 8 h). During the first 30 min of each hour, subjects exercised for 30 min at minute ventilation (VE) approximately 40 L/min. The order of the exposures was randomized, and the exposures were separated by at least 7 days. The response patterns over the 8-h periods for spirometric variables in both O3 exposures were statistically different from air exposure changes and from each other. For FEV1 the p values were 0.017 between air and steady-state profile, 0.002 between air and triangular profile, and 0.037 between steady-state and triangular profiles. Although in the triangular pattern of exposure the maximal O3 concentration was reached at 4 h, the maximum FEV1 decrement (10.2%) was observed at 6 h of exposure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

An air quality data analysis system for interrelating effects, standards, and needed source reductions: Part 11. A lognormal model relating human lung function decrease to O3 exposure.

Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was measured in 21 men exercising while exposed to four O3 concentrations (0.0, 0.08, 0.10, and 0.12 ppm). A lognormal multiple linear regression model was fitted to their mean FEV1 measurements to predict FEV1 percent decrease as a function of O3 concentration and exposure duration. The exercise level used was probably comparable to heavy manual labor. The longest O3 exposure studied was 6 h. Extrapolating cautiously to an 8-h workday of heavy manual labor, the model predicts that O3 concentrations of 0.08, 0.10, and 0.12 ppm would decrease FEV1 by 9, 15, and 20 percent, respectively.

Adult

Response of women mountaineers to maximal exercise during hypoxia.

Eight members of the American Women's Himalayan Expedition, ranging in age from 20-49, performed maximal exercise on a treadmill under normoxic and acute hypoxic (12.58% O2) conditions. Normoxic values for VO2 max were above average for all subjects and did not decline with age. The mean decrease in VO2 max (26.7%) during hypoxia was equivalent to that reported for younger males, which suggests that age was not a factor in response to hypoxia. Maximal heart rate, respiratory exchange ratio, oxygen pulse, and walk time were lower in hypoxia while ventilatory equivalent and blood lactate were higher. VEmax BTPS, was the same under both conditions. The combination of laboratory results and field observations by the Expedition physician suggest that women are capable of performing hard work at high altitude if they are in good condition and properly acclimatized.

Adult

Decrease of maximum work performance following ozone exposure.

A bicycle ergometer was used to measure maximum exercise oxygen consumption following 2 h of intermittent exercise in an environmental chamber ventilated with air (FA test) or filtered air plus 0.75 ppm ozone (PO test). Thirteen adult males performed both tests according to a random sequence. The maximum attained VO2 declined 10% (P less than 0.01), maximum attained work load was reduced by 10% (P less than 0.01), maximum ventilation decreased 16% (P less than 0.01), and maximum heart rate dropped 6% (P less than 0.05) in the PO test. At the highest common work load, heart rate and oxygen consumption were similar and ventilation was slightly higher (P less than 0.05); however, frequency of respiration increased 45% (P less than 0.01) and tidal voluem fell by 29% (P less than 0.01) following ozone exposure. During maximum exercise, the respiratory frequency was similar in both tests, but tidal volume was 21% lower (P less than 0.01) in PO experiments. Decreases in vital capacity and FEV1.0 as well as cough and chest discomfort were also noted following ozone exposure. We conclude that the reduction of maximum attained VO2 is a consequence of ventilatory limitation of maximum effort, probably related to respiratory discomfort.

Adult

Influence of exercise and heat stress on pulmonary function during ozone exposure.

We studied the effects of a 2-h exposure to ozone (0.5 ppm) in 14 nonsmoking males under four environmental conditions (WBGT (wet bulb-globe temperature index) = 64.4, 80.0, 85.2, and 92.0 degrees F). The subjects were divided into two groups, A (n = 8) and B (n = 6). Thirty minutes of exercise at 40% Vo2 max was performed from 60 to 90 min for group A and 30 to 60 min for group B. Pulmonary function changes, determined throughout exposure, were greatest immediately after exercise in both groups. Few changes occurred before the exercise period. However, the decrease in FVC (826 ml) and FEV1.0 (937 ml) following exercise was more than twice as large as the decrement seen at end exosure (388 and 423 ml, respectively). Measures of maximum expiratory flow (FEF 25-75%, FEF 50% FEF 75%) showed similar reductions. In many cases, reversal of these changes occurred during the remainder of the exposure period. The greatest decrease in FVC occurred when heat and ozone exposures were combined (WBGT = 92.0 degrees F). We conclude that the effects of ozone are most severe immediately after exercise and that heat stress may modify the overall effect of ozone on pulmonary function.

Adult

Pulmonary function changes in ozone-interaction of concentration and ventilation.

A total of 28 healthy young subjects have been exposed for 2 h to ozone (0.37-0.75 ppm) under conditions of either rest or intermittent light exercise (sufficient to increase the respiratory minute volume by a factor of 2.5). All pulmonary function tests (vital capacity, forced expiratory volume, maximum expiratory flow-volume curve, slope of phase III of alveolar nitrogen plateau) showed a significant deterioration relative to parallel control experiments. Responses were related to the dose of ozone as calculated from the product of concentration, exposure time, and respiratory minute volume during exposure, changes at 1 h averaging approximately one-half those seen at 2 h.

Adult

Exercise responses following ozone exposure.

We have tested the response of 28 subjects to a three-stage ergometer test, with loads adjusted to 45, 60, and 75% of maximum aerobic power following ozone exposure. The subjects were exposed to one of 0.37, 0.50, or 0.75 ppm O3 for 2 h either at rest (R) or while exercising intermittently (IE) (15 min rest alternated with 15 min exercise at approximately 50 W. sufficient to increase VE by a factor of 2.5). Also, all subjects completed a mock exposure VE, respiratory frequency (fR), mixed expired PO2 and PCO2, and electrocardiogram were monitored continuously during the exercise test. Neither submaximal exercise oxygen consumption nor minute ventilation was significantly altered following any level of ozone exposure. The major response noted was an increase in respiratory frequency during exercise following ozone exposure. The increase in fR was closely correlated with the total dose of ozone (r = 0.98) and was accompanied by a decrease in tidal volume (r = 0.91) so that minute volume was unchanged. It is concluded that through its irritant properties, ozone modifies the normal ventilatory response to exercise, and that this effect is dose dependent.

Adult

Human exposure to sulfur dioxide and ozone: absence of a synergistic effect.

Studies of the human health effects of exposure to a combination of ozone and sulfur dioxide have produced somewhat conflicting results; the possibility of a synergistic enhancement of toxicity when the two gases are present simultaneously remains equivocal. We evaluated the effects of 0.40 ppm sulfur dioxide, 0.40 ppm ozone, and the combination of these two under one environmental condition (25 degrees C and 45% relative humidity). Subjects alternately walked and rested during a 2-hr exposure. Subjects exposed to filtered air or to 0.40 ppm sulfur dioxide showed no significant changes in pulmonary function. When exposed to either ozone or ozone plus sulfur dioxide, significant decreases in maximum expiratory flow, forced vital capacity, and inspiratory capacity were observed. There were no significant differences in response between ozone alone and ozone plus sulfur dioxide exposures, thus, in our subjects on synergistic effects were discernible.

Adolescent

Respiratory response of humans exposed to low levels of ozone for 6.6 hours.

Recent evidence suggests that prolonged exposures of exercising men to 0.08 ppm ozone (O3) result in significant decrements in lung function, induction of respiratory symptoms, and increases in nonspecific airway reactivity. The purpose of this study was to confirm or refute these findings by exposing 38 healthy young men to 0.08 ppm O3 for 6.6 h. During exposure, subjects performed exercise for a total of 5 h, which required a minute ventilation of 40 l/min. Significant O3-induced decrements were observed for forced vital capacity (FVC, -0.25 l), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1.0, -0.35 l), and mean expiratory flow rate between 25% and 75% of FVC (FEF25-75, -0.57 l/s), and significant increases were observed in airway reactivity (35%), specific airway resistance (0.77 cm H2O/s), and respiratory symptoms. These results essentially confirm previous findings. A large range in individual responses was noted (e.g., percentage change in FEV1.0; 4% increase to 38% decrease). Responses also appeared to be nonlinear in time under these experimental conditions.

Adolescent

Does nitrogen dioxide exposure increase airways responsiveness?

A number of reports have suggested that exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) may cause increased airways responsiveness (AR). Twenty studies of asthmatics and five studies of healthy subjects exposed to NO2 were used to test this hypothesis using a simple method of meta-analysis. Individual data were obtained for the above studies and the direction of change in AR was determined for each subject. Only studies with available individual data were used. Subjects from these studies whose directional change in AR could not be determined were excluded. The fraction of positive responses (i.e. increased AR) was determined for all subjects within a group and tested for significance using a sign test. Data were also grouped according to NO2 concentration and by whether the exposure included exercise. There was an overall trend among asthmatics for AR to increase (60%) but this was primarily due to increased AR seen in resting exposures (70%). Among healthy subjects AR also increased with NO2 exposure but only at concentrations above 1.0 ppm. This analysis suggests that NO2 exposure causes increased airway responsiveness in healthy and asthmatic subjects but that exercise during exposure may modify this response in asthmatics.

Asthma