Influence of air pollution on pulmonary function in healthy young men from different regions of Poland

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of air pollution on pulmonary function parameters in healthy non-smoking young men. The study comprised 1,278 healthy, non-smoking young men (aged 18-23) living in Poland in regions with different levels of air pollution. The examined population was divided into three groups A, B, and C, based on low, moderate and high air pollution levels, respectively. Spirometry and bodyphletysmography at rest were performed by using of mobile lab PNEUMOBIL. Lung function parameters were analyzed and compared with respect to the level of air pollution. The mean values of the pulmonary function parameters were within the limits in all groups, but we observed statistically significant differences between the groups (lowest mean values in group C and the highest in group A). In all groups we found persons with significant airflow limitation in the central and peripheral bronchi, defined as the decrease of FEV1%FVC ratio <70 and FEV1<80% of predicted value (central bronchi), and FEV1%FVC ratio >70, FEF50<70% predicted (peripheral bronchi). The percentage of persons with airflow limitation in the central bronchi was in group A (0.3%), B (0.4%) and C (1.4%). The incidence of flow limitation in small bronchi was as follows: in group A (1.2%), B (0.5%) and C (6.7%). The majority of factors defining the capacity of lungs as well as the intensity of the airflow showed a negative correlation with the concentrations of the basic air pollution (SO2, NO2, PM10). Our study showed, for the first time, the influence of air pollution on pulmonary function parameters in healthy non-smoking young men in the Polish population.