[Effect of ozone on physical performance capacity]

Twelve healthy women and twelve healthy men were tested on an exercise bicycle until exhaustion in a climate chamber at ozone levels of 0, 0.06 and 0.12 ppm. Under high ozone, a clear decrease of performance was seen at maximal efforts as well as a shift of the anaerobic threshold to somewhat lower performance values. These changes are probably caused by increasingly difficult breathing due to a reflex bronchial constriction. At high ozone concentrations, further symptoms were recognized: itching in throat and neck region, thirst, fatigue and itching eyes.