LONG-TERM PARTICULATE AND OTHER AIR-POLLUTANTS AND LUNG-FUNCTION IN NONSMOKERS

The associations between lung function measures (spirometry and Peak e xpiratory flow lability) and estimated 20-yr ambient concentrations of respirable particles, suspended sulfates, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and indoor particles were studied in a sample of 1,391 nonsmokers followed since 1977. Differences in air pollutants across the population were associated with decrements of lung function. An increase of 54 d/yr wh en particles < 10 mu m in diameter (PM10) exceeded 100 mu g/m(3) was a ssociated with a 7.2% decrement in FEV1, as percent of predicted, in m ales whose parents had asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, or hay fever and with increased peak expiratory flow lability of 0.8% for all females and 0.6% for all males. An increase in mean SO4 concentration of 1.6 m u g/m(3) was associated with a 1.5% decrement in FEV1, as percent of p redicted, in all males. An increase of 23 ppb of ozone as an 8-h avera ge was associated with a 6.3% decrement in FEV1, as percent of predict ed, in males whose parents had asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, or hay f ever.