[Effects of personal exposure to nitrogen dioxide on peak expiratory flow in asthmatic patients].
OBJECTIVE
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) has been inconsistently associated with gradual decreases in lung function. Here, we studied the effects of NO2 exposure in asthmatics by examining the association between changes in lung function and concentrations of NO2 which were personally measured.


METHODS
Peak expiratory flow (PEF) and daily personal exposures to NO2 were recorded on 28 patients with asthma (confirmed by methacholine provocation test) over 4 weeks. We used generalized estimating equations to assess the relationship between personal NO2 exposure and PEF, adjusting for potential confounders such as age, gender, outdoor particulate matter, temperature, humidity, and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.


RESULTS
The personal NO2 exposures were higher than the corresponding ambient levels. The mean personal: ambient ratio for NO2 was 1.48. The personal NO2 exposures were not associated with the morning PEF, evening PEF, or the diurnal PEF variability. However, environmental tobacco smoke was negatively associated with both the morning and evening PEF.


CONCLUSIONS
Among the asthmatic adults who participated in this study, we found no apparent impact of personal NO2 exposures on the peak expiratory flow.
Kwon
Ho-Jang
HJ
Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine. hojang@dku.edu
Lee
Sang Gyu
SG
Jee
Young-Koo
YK
Lee
Sang-Rok
SR
Hwang
Seung-Sik
SS
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide