Mail Carriers Exposed to Ozone Below Current Standards Show Declines in Acute Lung Function
Outdoor workers are considered populations at risk of ozone exposure, because of the time they spend out of doors and the increased dose they receive due to exercise.
A study in Taichung City, Taiwan has demonstrated that mail carriers exposed to daily ozone concentrations below the current 8-hour air quality standard experienced declines in lung function. Ozone is a powerful oxidant that can induce pulmonary function impairment at low levels via several toxicological mechanisms.
This study measured peak expiratory flow rates in 43 mail carriers twice daily for 6 weeks. A central monitoring station measured ozone, PM10 and nitrogen dioxide concentrations.
After working for 8 hours on a day with elevated ozone concentrations, the workers lost respiratory function in nighttime measurements for the same day and on the two following days.
Chan C-C, Wu T-H. Effects of Ambient Ozone Exposure on Mail Carriers’ Peak Expiratory Flow Rates. Environ Health Perspec 2005; 113:735-738.
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