ACUTE PULMONARY RESPONSE OF ASTHMATICS TO AEROSOLS AND GASES GENERATED BY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the aerosols and ga ses that vent into an automobile's passenger compartment after airbag deployment pose a risk to the asthmatic population. After baseline pul monary function measurements were taken, 24 diagnosed asthmatic subjec ts were placed in the rear seat of an automobile, and a driver-passeng er airbag system was deployed. Subjects remained in the vehicle with t he windows closed and no ventilation for 20 min or until they perceive d or demonstrated signs of chest tightness and bronchoconstriction. Th ey then exited the vehicle and were retested immediately after exposur e and 2 and 4 h after exposure. Ten of the 24 subjects demonstrated cl inically significant bronchoconstrictive episodes, three of which requ ired medical intervention. These three events were quickly reversed by beta-agonist therapy. When eight of the responding subjects were reex posed at later dates to the same supplemental inflatable restraints em issions while wearing a high-efficiency particulate absolute respirato r, which prevented inhalation of the particles but allowed passage of the gases, the pulmonary response was essentially eliminated. We concl ude that the aerosols generated by deployment of automotive driver-pas senger airbag systems can induce significant asthmatic reactions in so me individuals.