Airway responses to sulfate and sulfuric acid aerosols in asthmatics. An exposure-response relationship.

Epidemiologic studies support an association between elevated levels of sulfates and increased symptoms in asthmatics. To determine if these pollutants produce airway responses, 17 asthmatics inhaled the following sulfates: sodium bisulfate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium bisulfate (NH4HSO4), or sulfuric acid (H2SO4) aerosols with an aerodynamic diameter of 0.80 micron at concentrations of 100 micrograms/m3, 450 micrograms/m3, and 1,000 micrograms/m3. A sodium chloride (NaCl) aerosol of similar characteristics, administered by double-blind randomization, served as a control. Subjects breathed these aerosols for a 16-minute period via a mouthpiece. Deposition studies showed 54 to 65% retention of the inhaled aerosols. At the 1,000 micrograms/m3 concentration, the Threshold Limit Value for occupational exposure, H2SO4 and NH4HSO4 inhalation produced significant reductions in specific airway conductance (SGaw) (p less than 0.05) and forced expiratory volume in one second (p less than 0.01) compared with NaCl or pre-exposure values. At the 450 micrograms/m3 concentration, only H2SO4 inhalation produced a significant reduction in SGaw (p less than 0.01). At 100 micrograms/m3, a level 3 to 5 times greater than peak urban levels, no significant change in airway function occurred after any sulfate exposure. These data indicate that asthmatics demonstrate bronchoconstriction after brief exposure to common acidic sulfate pollutants.