The impact the atmospheric air dust fractions and toxic metals on external respiratory function among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

Abstract

The study is dedicated to the potential risk determination of external respiratory function (ERF) disorders among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients under dust fractions and toxic metals influence in Vladivostok atmosphere. The risk assessment included the environmental ERF trigger factors identification among COPD patients by regression analysis, the number of patients responding to factor exposure determination and the analysis of the possible ERF disorders individual risk among COPD patients. It is found that Vladivostok air pollution by dust aerosols and toxic metals directly affects COPD patients’ ERF. The most significant effect on the bronchial mucosa, aggravating bronchial patency (r=11.6%) and lung hyperinflation (r=10.7%) have ultrafine suspended particulate matter (SPM) fractions (0-1 μm). Fine SPM fractions (1-10 μm) affect ERF parameters characterizing bronchial patency only and less than ultrafine fractions (r=10.2%). Toxic metals (Ni, Zn) equally influence bronchial patency and lung tissue hyperinflation indicators among COPD patients (r=29.8% and r=29.1% respectively).