Fraction of exhaled nitric oxide after experimental exposure to diesel exhaust and ozone in man

• Background: Fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) is a promising non-invasive index of airways inflammation that may be used to assess the respiratory effects of air pollution, and when sampled at multiple expiratory flow rates can measure inflammation at different levels of the airway tract. We evaluate FENO as a measure of airways inflammation after controlled exposure to dilute diesel exhaust and ozone. Methods: Using a double blind randomised cross-over design, healthy volunteers (26±5 years) were exposed to either diesel exhaust (particle concentration 300 µg/m3) and filtered air for one hour (n=10), or ozone(300 ppb) and filtered air for 75 minutes (n=36). FENO was measured in duplicate at expiratory flow rates of 10, 50, 100 and 270 mL/s before, 6 and 24 hours after the end of each exposure. Results: Exposure to diesel exhaust increased FENO at 6 hours compared to filtered air at expiratory flow rates of 10 mL/s [mean±SEM 60.8 ± 6.0 ppb versus 50.2 ± 5.9 ppb; P=0.01] and at 50 mL/s [18.6 ± 1.6 ppb versus 15.9 ± 1.5 ppb; P=0.011], but concentrations did not differ at higher flow rates. Increases in FENO following diesel exhaust were attenuated at 24 hours and exposure to ozone did not affect FENO at any flow rate or time point. Conclusion: Exposure to diesel exhaust, but not ozone, increases the concentration of FENO in healthy subjects consistent with an inflammatory effect in the central airways. Differences in the induction of airway inflammation may explain divergent responses to diesel exhaust and ozone with implications for the use of FENO as an index of exposure to air pollution.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Lungmedicin och allergi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Respiratory Medicine and Allergy (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Air Pollution

Particulate matter

Diesel exhaust

Ozone

exhaled NO

Luftföroreningar

partiklar

diesel avgaser

ozon

utandat NO

Internal medicine

Invärtesmedicin

lungmedicin

Lung Medicine

Environmental Science

miljövetenskap

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

ovr (subject category)