Moderate increases in ambient PM2.5 and ozone are associated with lung function decreases in beach lifeguards.
OBJECTIVE
Exposure to pollutants would adversely affect lung function of healthy athletes.


METHODS
Pulmonary function was recorded on beach lifeguards at three different times during the day. Daily and average peak pollutant levels were calculated. Linear regression analyses were made comparing lung function changes in response to pollutant levels. A multivariate model was constructed to explain the combined effects of pollutants.


RESULTS
Afternoon forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expired volume in 1 second (FEV1) decreased significantly compared with morning values and decreased with increasing fine particulates (PM2.5). FEV1/FVC decreased with increasing ozone (O3) levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The deleterious effect of PM2.5 and O3 were transient and occurred at pollutant levels far below national standards. At low levels of exposure, PM2.5 was associated with reduced lung volumes, while increasing O3 levels were associated with airway obstruction.
Thaller
Ephraim I
EI
Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0366, USA.
Petronella
Sharon A
SA
Hochman
Dan
D
Howard
Shawn
S
Chhikara
Raj S
RS
Brooks
Edward G
EG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D010126:Ozone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012623:Seawater; D012907:Smoking; D013550:Swimming; D013781:Texas
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D052638:Particulate Matter; D010126:Ozone