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Large lungs in divers: natural selection or a training effect?

Yochai Adir1, Avi Shupak, Arie Laor

  • 1Israel Naval Medical Institute, PO Box 8040, 31 080 Haifa, Israel. adir-sh@zahav.net.il

Chest
|July 9, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Large lung volumes in divers may be due to natural selection, not training. Experienced divers showed reduced airflow, suggesting potential small airways disease from prolonged diving.

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Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary Physiology
  • Diving Medicine
  • Occupational Health

Background:

  • Professional divers require normal spirometry for medical clearance.
  • Divers often exhibit large lung volumes and a low FEV(1)% (forced expiratory volume in 1 second / forced vital capacity ratio), mimicking obstructive lung disease.
  • The study investigated whether these pulmonary characteristics in divers are due to natural selection or training effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if large lung volumes and low FEV(1)% in divers are a result of natural selection or training.
  • To investigate the impact of diving experience on pulmonary function parameters.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of lung function data from 171 Israeli Navy divers with FEV(1)% < 80%.
  • Subjects meeting criteria for large lungs were included.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Comparison of pulmonary function tests (FVC, MEF50, DLCO) between experienced and inexperienced divers.

    • Main Results:

    • 109 divers with low FEV(1)% met the criteria for large lungs.
    • No significant difference in forced vital capacity (FVC) between experienced and inexperienced divers.
    • A significant reduction in mean forced expiratory flow at 50% of vital capacity (MEF50) was observed in the most experienced divers.
    • Diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) showed no difference between experience groups.

    Conclusions:

    • Large lung volumes in divers may be attributed to natural selection rather than adaptation through training.
    • Prolonged diving experience might contribute to the development of small airways disease.
    • Findings suggest a potential link between extensive diving and altered small airway function.