[Lung function and carboxyhemoglobin during the smog episode of January 1987]

During a phase of elevated ambient air pollution in January 1987 the alert level of the smog alarm recommendation in Northrhine Westfalia (FRG) was reached. The average concentrations during examinations were 0.255 mg/m3 SO2 and 3.2 mg/m3 CO at the closest station. In 111 healthy persons in Cologne and Düsseldorf, resistance measured by oscillatory method was elevated during this period compared to control examinations. In 59 patients with moderate airway-obstruction from different parts of West Germany lung function showed further deterioration during the smog phase: Airway resistance measured by body-plethysmography was higher than during a control period, FVC, FEV1, PEF and MEF75 were decreased. Finally levels of carboxyhemoglobin in blood also were increased in 46 healthy nonsmokers. The investigation shows, that even in moderate smog episodes (compared to earlier years) small, but consistent changes of lung function parameter can be measured.