engleski

Effect of ozone concentrations on the lung function of walkers

Urban population engaging in outdoor recreational activities is often exposed to unfavourable weather conditions and air pollutants such as particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of naturally elevated ozone concentrations and some meteorological variables on the lung function of untrained volunteers walking in an unpolluted mountain area. The study included 40 healthy men aged between 18 and 70 years (smokers and non-smokers) without respiratory disorders. The participants took a cable car to the top of Medvednica mountain near Zagreb, Croatia, at approximately 1000 m a.s.l., they walked at this altitude and engaged in other recreational activities for at least one hour. Forced vital capacity (FVC) of the participants was measured in front of the upper cable car station at arrival and before they left the mountain. Along with spirometric measurements, ozone and nitrogen dioxide concentrations were recorded as well as meteorological parameters: air temperature, relative humidity and pressure. Statistics included the analysis of variance and univariate, multivariate, and stepwise regression analysis. ANOVA showed a statistically significant difference in exposure to all measured environmental parameters, and also in the forced vital capacity between measurement days. Regression analysis showed a statistically significant influence of ozone on FVC. However, temperature and humidity influenced FVC in the same degree. Stepwise regression showed that environmental variables accounted for 33.14 % variability of FVC and that only the measurement day and smoking status had a statistically significant influence on FVC. Ozone levels above 100 μg m-3 and temperature, pressure, and relative humidity have a statistically significant influence on forced vital capacity of untrained volunteers who walk and engage in other recreational activities.

air pollution; forced vital capacity; meteorology; recreation

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