The Effects of Ozone and Nitrogen Dioxide on Lung Function in Healthy and Asthmatic Adolescents

This report investigated whether asthmatic and healthy adolescents differ in their sensitivity to near-ambient concentrations of ozone and nitrogen dioxide. Dr. Koenig and colleagues exposed healthy and asthmatic participants to concentrations of 0.12 and 0.18 ppm ozone or 0.12 and 0.18 ppm nitrogen dioxide during rest or rest followed by moderate exercise. Pulmonary function tests including forced expiratory volume, peak flow, total respiratory resistance, thoracic gas volume at functional residual capacity, and maximal flow at 50% and 75% of expired vital capacity were taken before exposure, during breaks in exposure, and after exposure.