The Effects of Air Pollution on Pulmonary Functions

Abstract

Results obtained by the statistically comparative observations, performed for three years, twice a year, in winter and in summer, since 1964, on ventilatory functions and complaints, cough, sputum, short breathing, and chronic bronchitis by Fletcher's criteria of cities employees in Sapporo, remarkably air polluted city and in Obihiro, stands on very clear atmospheric condition, in total 4278 men: (1) The mean values of vital capacity, MME, and peak flow were always significantly lower in Sapporo, especially in younger groups. (2) The differences between both cities were more significant in winter than in summer season, conditioned less polluted air. (3) The ventilatory values of “heavy smoker”, grouped by our way, in both cities showed significantly lower in same grades. (4) The spirometric ventilatory values on same subjects in Sapporo decreased significantly year by year, however, the annual canges were not significant in Obihiro. (5) The frequencies of complaints in the groups of no medical past histories were significantly lower in summer and nonsmoker than in winter and smoker groups, however, found no significant difference between both cities. (6) Junior high school subjects, in total 2, 100 boys and girls of five schools: We have begun the same observations as well as cities employees, since the winter 1966; we found the lowest values on spirometric studies at one school, stands on most air polluted condition, in this winter.