The effects of air pollution on ventilatory lung functions.
The prevalence of chronic bronchitis was studied among female subjects aged 18-63 years from three areas with different ambient air quality: Bakar and Krasica with SO2 concentrations above the WHO guideline and Viskovo where the SO2 concentrations were below the guideline. The subjects were examined and administered a questionnaire. Differences in their ventilatory lung functions were tested and related to air quality. The subjects from the two regions to air quality. The subjects from the two regions with a higher pollution level had lower FVC and FEV1 values than those from the Viskovo region. However, no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of chronic bronchitis between the subjects from regions with different ambient air quality were found. The same applies to the occurrence of pathological restrictive ventilation disturbances. In the Krasica region the occurrence of pathological obstructive ventilatory disturbances was significantly higher than in the Viskovo and Bakar regions; a correlation between the duration of residence and ventilatory lung function was also observed.
Primary Health Centre, Rijeka, Croatia.
V
V
Matković
I
I
Kontosić
H
H
Grubisić-Greblo
N
N
Matković
V
V
Mićović
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics