Hematological and hemorheological effects of air pollution.
Selected hematological parameters and erythrocyte deformability indexes for 16 young male military students were compared before and after a period of exposure to heavy pollution. These students lived in Ankara, which has a serious air pollution problem. The mean sulfur dioxide levels measured at a station proximal to the campus where the students lived were 188 micrograms/m3 and 201 micrograms/m3 during first and second measurements, respectively. During the period between the two measurements, the mean sulfur dioxide level was 292 micrograms/m3. Significant erythropoiesis was indicated by increased erythrocyte counts and hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. Methemoglobin percentage was increased to 2.37 +/- 0.49% (mean +/- standard error) from 0.51 +/- 0.23%. Sulfhemoglobinemia was present in six subjects after the period of pollution, but it was not present in any student prior to this period. Significant increases in erythrocyte deformability indexes were observed after the period of pollution, i.e., from 1.13 +/- 0.01 to 1.21 +/0 0.02, implying that erythrocytes were less flexible, which might impair tissue perfusion.
Department of Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Hacettepe, Ankara, Turkey.
O K
OK
Baskurt
E
E
Levi
S
S
Caglayan
N
N
Dikmenoglu
M N
MN
Kutman
D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D000413:Alaska; D000531:Altitude; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability / Q000187:drug effects*; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D004920:Erythropoiesis / Q000187:drug effects; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012212:Rheology; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis
D000393:Air Pollutants; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide