title: Effects on symptoms and lung function in humans experimentally exposed to diesel exhaust.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diesel exhaust is a common air pollutant made up of several gases, hydrocarbons, and particles. An experimental study was carried out which was designed to evaluate if a particle trap on the tail pipe of an idling diesel engine would reduce effects on symptoms and lung function caused by the diesel exhaust, compared with exposure to unfiltered exhaust.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve healthy non-smoking volunteers (aged 20-37) were investigated in an exposure chamber for one hour during light work on a bicycle ergometer at 75 W. Each subject underwent three separate double blind exposures in a randomised sequence: to air and to diesel exhaust with the particle trap at the tail pipe and to unfiltered diesel exhaust. Symptoms were recorded according to the Borg scale before, every 10 minutes during, and 30 minutes after the exposure. Lung function was measured with a computerised whole body plethysmograph.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ceramic wall flow particle trap reduced the number of particles by 46%, whereas other compounds were relatively constant. It was shown that the most prominent symptoms during exposure to diesel exhaust were irritation of the eyes and nose and an unpleasant smell increasing during exposure. Both airway resistance (R(aw)) and specific airway resistance (SR(aw)) increased significantly during the exposures to diesel exhaust. Despite the 46% reduction in particle numbers by the trap effects on symptoms and lung function were not significantly attenuated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure to diesel exhaust caused symptoms and bronchoconstriction which were not significantly reduced by a particle trap.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Northern Sweden, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rudell
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ledin
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hammarström
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stjernberg
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lundbäck
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sandström
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005374:Filtration; D005540:Forced Expiratory Flow Rates; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010316:Particle Size; D010993:Plethysmography, Whole Body; D012119:Respiration / Q000502:physiology*; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D001335:Vehicle Emissions