title: Association of Ambient Air Quality with Male's Pulmonary Function in Kolkata City, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kolkata is one of the polluted metropolitan cities in India where health effects of air pollution are raising serious concern.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Purpose of the present study was to analyze association between levels of air pollutants and pulmonary function of adult males living in two different air pollutant zones of Kolkata.
  
  
  METHODS
  Air pollution data of two ambient air quality monitoring stations located at Rabindrabharati and Victoria Memorial was collected from West Bengal Pollution Control Board, Kolkata for the period from January to March 2012. Study was conducted on 200 males (17-22 yrs), subdivided into two groups from living within 3 km radius of that two monitoring stations. They were investigated for their spirometric lung functions following method and technique recommended by American Thoracic Society. Results were expressed as mean ± SD and independent samples T test was conducted to compare between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PM10, SO2 concentrations were significantly higher in Rabindrabharati zone, whereas no significant differences were noted in NO2 and CO concentrations though values were higher at Rabindrabharati than Victoria Memorial. FVC, FEV1, FEF25-75%, MVV were significantly lower in males of Rabindrabharati zone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure to high air pollutant concentration might be associated with reduced pulmonary function in adult males.
authors.affiliation: Office of the Secretary, Faculty Councils for Postgraduate Studies.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science University of Kalyani Kalyani- 741235, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Das
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D014504:Urban Health; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter