title: Acute effects of summer air pollution on pulmonary function and airway inflammation in healthy young women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exposure to air pollution has been reported to be associated with asthma exacerbation. However, little is known about the effects of air pollutant exposure in healthy people. A panel study was conducted to evaluate the acute effects of air pollutants on pulmonary function and airway inflammation in healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) pH, fractional concentration of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), and pulmonary function were measured in 21 healthy young women repeatedly for two weeks in the summer in Tokyo, Japan. The concentrations of air pollutants were obtained from the monitoring stations in the neighborhoods where the subjects lived. Statistical analyses were performed using generalized estimating equations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EBC pH decreased significantly with a 10-ppb increase in the 4-day average ozone (O3) concentration and a 10-µg/m3 increase in the 4-day average suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentration (-0.07 [95% confidence interval {CI} -0.11 to -0.03] and -0.08 [95% CI -0.12 to -0.03], respectively). Subjects with a history of rhinitis showed marked decreases in EBC pH associated with increases in O3 and SPM. The changes in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) were also significantly associated with a 10-µg/m3 increase in the 3-day average concentration of SPM (-0.09 L [95% CI -0.17 to -0.01]). FeNO increased significantly in relation to the increase in O3 and SPM among only subjects with a history of asthma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Over the course of the study, EBC became significantly acidic with increases in O3 and SPM concentrations. Furthermore, higher SPM concentrations were associated with decreased FEV1. Subjects with a history of rhinitis or asthma are considered to be more susceptible to air pollutants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Hyogo College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Yoshiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoda
authors.forename: Naruhito
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Otani
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shima
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D010126:Ozone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012621:Seasons; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D010126:Ozone