ACUTE EFFECTS OF PM-10 POLLUTION ON PULMONARY-FUNCTION OF SMOKERS WITH MILD-TO-MODERATE CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY-DISEASE

This study assessed the association between respirable particulate air pollution (PM10) and changes in the pulmonary function (FEV1, FEV1/FV C, and FVC) of smokers with mild to moderate airflow limitation. Spiro metric data of Salt Lake City participants in The Lung Health Study we re used from two screening visits 10 to 90 days apart after an initial screening visit, which included spirometry. We analyzed differences i n pulmonary function (DELTAFEV1, DELTAFEV1/FVC, and DELTAFVC) for part icipants between the two spirometry visits. Significant associations b etween changes in pulmonary function and PM10 were observed. DELTAFEV1 and DELTAFEV1/FVC were inversely associated with changes in PM10. Alt hough these associations were small, explaining only about 2 to 3% of the variance in DELTAFEV1, they were consistently negative and statist ically significant (p less-than-or-equal-to 0.01). On average, an incr ease in PM10 equal to 100 mug/m3 was associated with a marginal declin e in FEV1 equal to approximately 2%. Associations between DELTAFVC and PM10 were consistently negative, but they were not statistically sign ificant. No consistent or statistically significant associations betwe en DELTAFEV1, DELTAFEV1/FVC, or DELTAFVC with changes in daily tempera tures were observed. The effect of PM10 was greater for men than for w omen. The effect was nearly the same for those with nonspecific airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), based on methacholine inhalation challenge testing, versus those without AHR. We conclude that in current smoker s PM10 possibly has a small transient negative effect on lung function that is not entirely obscured by their smoking habit.