Respiratory symptoms in a susceptible population due to burning of agricultural residue.
OBJECTIVE
To identify characteristics associated with respiratory symptoms due to an episode of air pollution.


METHODS
Mail survey.


METHODS
In October 1992, the population of the city of Winnipeg was exposed to elevated levels of particulate matter (total and <10 microm size), carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and volatile organic compounds due to smoke from adjacent fields where farmers were burning agricultural residue (straw and stubble).


METHODS
We surveyed 428 participants in the ongoing Lung Health Study (35 to 64 years old, both sexes) with mild to moderate airways obstruction (mean FEV1 percent predicted 73+/-12%), and a high level of airways hyperreactivity (23% of men and 37% of women).


RESULTS
While 37% of subjects were not bothered by smoke at all, 42% reported that symptoms (cough, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath) developed or became worse due to the air pollution episode and 20% reported that they had breathing trouble. Those with symptoms were more likely to be female than male and were more likely to be ex-smokers than smokers. Subjects with asthma and chronic bronchitis were also more likely affected. The degree of airways obstruction and the level of bronchial hyperresponsiveness were not associated with increased susceptibility.


CONCLUSIONS
Gender, smoking habit, and respiratory symptoms but not bronchial hyperresponsiveness or the degree of airways obstruction are factors influencing susceptibility to symptoms due to air pollution in adult smokers and former smokers.
Long
W
W
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
Tate
R B
RB
Neuman
M
M
Manfreda
J
J
Becker
A B
AB
Anthonisen
N R
NR
D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000503:physiopathology; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003371:Cough / Q000503:physiopathology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008350:Manitoba; D008875:Middle Aged; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000009:adverse effects; D012119:Respiration / Q000502:physiology*; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000503:physiopathology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012906:Smoke / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology
D000393:Air Pollutants; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012906:Smoke; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide