Air Quality and Human Performance. Chapter 16
Abstract
The various air pollutants have been classified as primary or secondary pollutants. Primary pollutants are emitted directly to the environment from their source and include carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and primary particulates. Secondary pollutants develop from interactions of primary pollutants and include ozone, peroxyacetyl nitrate and certain aerosols. Carbon monoxide does not appear to cause decrements in submaximal exercise performance in healthy individuals; however, cardiovascularly-impaired individuals appear to be at significant risk during submaximal exercise even at low carboxyhemoglobin levels. Maximal exercise performance for healthy individuals seems to be altered by breathing carbon monoxide with the critical concentration being 4.3% carboxyhemoglobin. The threshold level of sulfur dioxide which effects submaximal exercise performance in healthy individuals is between 1.0 and 3.0 ppm while asthmatic individuals and possibly others with pulmonary hyperactivity are affected at a lower threshold concentration between 0.20 and 0.50 ppm. Several studies suggest that healthy and asthmatic individuals may adapt to sulfur but unfortunately no research has investigated adaptation to this pollutant during physical exercise. While no studies have been reported which evaluate maximal exercise performance, nitrogen dioxide exposure does not appear to adversely affect submaximal exercise performance in healthy individuals. The physiological performance effects of breathing primary particulates have not been directly evaluated during exercise in man. Ozone exposure does not appear to limit submaximal exercise performance at light to moderate exercise intensities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA188335
Entities
People
- Kent B. Pandolf
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine