Effects of submicronic sulfuric acid aerosol on human pulmonary function

The effects of a 4-hr exposure in an environmental chamber to an average 108 micrograms/m3 sulfuric acid (H2SO4 (MMAD, 0.5 micrograms)] on pulmonary function were examined in healthy young men. Subjects were randomly assigned to either experimental (N = 18) or control (N = 17) groups. All subjects were exposed to clean air on the first day. On the second day, experimental subjects were exposed to H2SO4 while control subjects were re-exposed to air. Subjects exercised for 15 min at 1.5 and 3.5 hr of exposure at an intensity equivalent to 75% of predicted maximal heart rate. Ventilation was monitored during the initial 14 min of each exposure. Pulmonary function was assessed prior to, and 2 hr and 4 hr of each exposure. Exposure to H2SO4 had no significant effect on minute ventilation, respiratory frequency, or tidal volume, nor did it affect pulmonary function as assessed by measures of airway resistance, specific airway conductance, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory flow in 1 sec (FEV 1.0), FEV 1.0/FVC, mean expiratory flow rate between 25% and 75% FVC, and expiratory flow rate at 50% and 25% FVC. It was concluded that no changes in pulmonary function resulted from exposure to H2SO4 under the above conditions.