Development of an aerosol dispersion test to detect early changes in lung function.
The dispersion of a 0.5 micron aerosol bolus during tidal breathing differs significantly (p less than 0.0001) between a group of smokers (with approximately 20 pack-years average exposure) and a comparable group of nonsmokers. Their mean differences in standard respiratory function indexes from spirometry [forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), mean forced expiratory flow during the middle half of the FVC (FEF25-75)] were smaller and not statistically significant. The test is simple to perform and may be done as quickly as spirometry but without using a forced exhalation. Comparison of the coefficients of variation for the dispersion test and FEV1 indicate that the aerosol dispersion test may be useful in epidemiologic investigations either by reducing the required population size or increasing the level of confidence.
McCawley
M
M
Institute of Environmental Medicine, New York University Medical Center, NY 10016.
Lippmann
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010755:Organophosphates; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology; D013147:Spirometry; D013990:Tidal Volume
D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants; D010755:Organophosphates; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; C005445:triphenyl phosphate