Asthmatics' responses to 6-hr sulfur dioxide exposures on two successive days

Asthmatic volunteers (N = 14) aged 18 to 33 yr with documented sensitivity to sulfur dioxide (SO2) were exposed in a chamber to 0.6 ppm SO2 for 6-hr periods on 2 successive days. Similar exposures to purified air, 1 wk later or earlier, served as controls. Subjects exercised heavily (target ventilation rate 50 L/min) for 5 min near the beginning of exposure (early exercise) and for an additional 5 min beginning after 5-hr of exposure (late exercise). At all other times, they rested. Body plethysmographic measurements and symptom questionnaires were administered pre-exposure, after each exercise period, and hourly during rest. Bronchoconstriction and lower respiratory symptoms were observed during or immediately following exercise--to a slight extent with clean air, and to a more marked extent with SO2. Bronchoconstriction and symptoms were modestly less severe on the second day of SO2 exposure than on the first day, but there were no meaningful differences in response between early and late exercise periods on either day.