Skip to main content
PMC home page
Environmental Health Perspectives logoLink to Environmental Health Perspectives
. 1989 Feb;79:43–51. doi: 10.1289/ehp.897943

Exposures to acidic aerosols.

J D Spengler 1, G J Keeler 1, P Koutrakis 1, P B Ryan 1, M Raizenne 1, C A Franklin 1
PMCID: PMC1567572  PMID: 2707210

Abstract

Ambient monitoring of acid aerosols in four U.S. cities and in a rural region of southern Ontario clearly show distinct periods of strong acidity. Measurements made in Kingston, TN, and Steubenville, OH, resulted in 24-hr H+ ion concentrations exceeding 100 nmole/m3 more than 10 times during summer months. Periods of elevated acidic aerosols occur less frequently in winter months. The H+ determined during episodic conditions in southern Ontario indicates that respiratory tract deposition can exceed the effects level reported in clinical studies. Observed 12-hr H+ concentrations exceeded 550 nmole/m3 (approximately 27 micrograms/m3 H2SO4). The maximum estimated 1-hr concentration exceeded 1500 nmole/m3 for H+ ions. At these concentrations, an active child might receive more than 2000 nmole of H+ ion in 12 hr and in excess of 900 nmole during the hour when H2SO4 exceeded 50 micrograms/m3.

Full text

PDF
43

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Brain J. D., Valberg P. A. Models of lung retention based on ICRP task group report. Arch Environ Health. 1974 Jan;28(1):1–11. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1974.10666424. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Fine J. M., Gordon T., Thompson J. E., Sheppard D. The role of titratable acidity in acid aerosol-induced bronchoconstriction. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1987 Apr;135(4):826–830. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1987.135.4.826. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Knelson J. H. Problem of estimating respiratory lead dose in children. Environ Health Perspect. 1974 May;7:53–57. doi: 10.1289/ehp.74753. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Koenig J. Q., Pierson W. E., Horike M. The effects of inhaled sulfuric acid on pulmonary function in adolescent asthmatics. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1983 Aug;128(2):221–225. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1983.128.2.221. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Last J. A., Hyde D. M., Guth D. J., Warren D. L. Synergistic interaction of ozone and respirable aerosols on rat lungs. I. Importance of aerosol acidity. Toxicology. 1986 Jun;39(3):247–257. doi: 10.1016/0300-483x(86)90026-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Linn W. S., Avol E. L., Shamoo D. A., Whynot J. D., Anderson K. R., Hackney J. D. Respiratory responses of exercising asthmatic volunteers exposed to sulfuric acid aerosol. J Air Pollut Control Assoc. 1986 Dec;36(12):1323–1328. doi: 10.1080/00022470.1986.10466181. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Persons D. D., Hess G. D., Muller W. J., Scherer P. W. Airway deposition of hygroscopic heterodispersed aerosols: results of a computer calculation. J Appl Physiol (1985) 1987 Sep;63(3):1195–1204. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1987.63.3.1195. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. RADFORD E. P., Jr, FERRIS B. G., Jr, KRIETE B. C. Clinical use of a nomogram to estimate proper ventilation during artificial respiration. N Engl J Med. 1954 Nov 25;251(22):877–884. doi: 10.1056/NEJM195411252512201. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Raizenne M. E., Burnett R. T., Stern B., Franklin C. A., Spengler J. D. Acute lung function responses to ambient acid aerosol exposures in children. Environ Health Perspect. 1989 Feb;79:179–185. doi: 10.1289/ehp.8979179. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Spektor D. M., Leikauf G. D., Albert R. E., Lippmann M. Effects of submicrometer sulfuric acid aerosols on mucociliary transport and respiratory mechanics in asymptomatic asthmatics. Environ Res. 1985 Jun;37(1):174–191. doi: 10.1016/0013-9351(85)90056-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Utell M. J., Morrow P. E., Hyde R. W. Comparison of normal and asthmatic subjects' responses to sulphate pollutant aerosols. Ann Occup Hyg. 1982;26(1-4):691–697. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Utell M. J., Morrow P. E., Speers D. M., Darling J., Hyde R. W. Airway responses to sulfate and sulfuric acid aerosols in asthmatics. An exposure-response relationship. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1983 Sep;128(3):444–450. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1983.128.3.444. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Environmental Health Perspectives are provided here courtesy of National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

RESOURCES