Office of Aerospace Medicine Technical Reports
FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-80/9
Title and Subtitle: Effects of ozone (0.30 parts per million, ~600 ug/m3) on sedentary men representative of airline passengers and cockpit crewmembers
Report Date: March 1980
Authors: Higgins EA, Lategola MT, Melton CE, Vaughan JA
Abstract: This study was undertaken to determine the effects of 0.30 ppmv ozone on 40 men representative of airline pilots. All were medically fit; 20 were smokers and 20 were nonsmokers.
Subjects were divided into two age groups, 40-49 years and 50-59 years. The experiments consisted of exposure to 0.30 ppmv ozone and, on another occasion, to air only for 3 h at a simulated altitude of 6,000 ft mean sea level. Subjects were sedentary throughout the experiment. Ozone had no effect on heart rate and short-term memory. The group showed a statistically significant incidence of symptoms related to ozone exposure; most were shown by the 40- to 49- year-old nonsmoking group while at altitude and postaltitude, and in smokers in the 50- to 59-year age group only at altitude. Eye irritation was the commonest symptom, followed by headache, nasal irritation, and throat irritation.
Data showed significant effects of ozone on forced expiratory volume, 1-second forced expiratory volume, and forced end-expiratory flow. The pulmonary effect of ozone appears to be principally on the small airways. Impairment of visual accommodation was associated with ozone. Dark adaptation threshold was elevated in ozone in the 50- to 59-year nonsmoking age group. Retinal bleach recovery time was retarded and blink rate was higher during ozone exposure.
It is concluded that 0.30 ppmv ozone is near threshold for adverse effects of ozone. The data are also applicable to passengers who fit into the same category as these sedentary subjects.
Key Words: Air pollution, Ozone, Respiration, Vision, Heart rate, Short-term memory, Hand steadiness, Airline operations, Airline pilots, Airline passengers
No. of Pages: 45
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-80/9
Title and Subtitle: Effects of ozone (0.30 parts per million, ~600 ug/m3) on sedentary men representative of airline passengers and cockpit crewmembers
Report Date: March 1980
Authors: Higgins EA, Lategola MT, Melton CE, Vaughan JA
Abstract: This study was undertaken to determine the effects of 0.30 ppmv ozone on 40 men representative of airline pilots. All were medically fit; 20 were smokers and 20 were nonsmokers.
Subjects were divided into two age groups, 40-49 years and 50-59 years. The experiments consisted of exposure to 0.30 ppmv ozone and, on another occasion, to air only for 3 h at a simulated altitude of 6,000 ft mean sea level. Subjects were sedentary throughout the experiment. Ozone had no effect on heart rate and short-term memory. The group showed a statistically significant incidence of symptoms related to ozone exposure; most were shown by the 40- to 49- year-old nonsmoking group while at altitude and postaltitude, and in smokers in the 50- to 59-year age group only at altitude. Eye irritation was the commonest symptom, followed by headache, nasal irritation, and throat irritation.
Data showed significant effects of ozone on forced expiratory volume, 1-second forced expiratory volume, and forced end-expiratory flow. The pulmonary effect of ozone appears to be principally on the small airways. Impairment of visual accommodation was associated with ozone. Dark adaptation threshold was elevated in ozone in the 50- to 59-year nonsmoking age group. Retinal bleach recovery time was retarded and blink rate was higher during ozone exposure.
It is concluded that 0.30 ppmv ozone is near threshold for adverse effects of ozone. The data are also applicable to passengers who fit into the same category as these sedentary subjects.
Key Words: Air pollution, Ozone, Respiration, Vision, Heart rate, Short-term memory, Hand steadiness, Airline operations, Airline pilots, Airline passengers
No. of Pages: 45
Last updated: Friday, June 1, 2012