[Relation between actual barometric pressure at sea level and alveolar and arterial pO2: correlations in 3,054 coal workers with and without pneumoconiosis (author's transl)].

The correlation between barometric pressure and arterial oxygen pressure has been investigated in 3,054 coal miners. Furthermore, the correlation between alveolar oxygen pressure and alveolar-arterial oxygen pressure difference and barometric pressure has been investigated in 1,669 coal miners. For low and for high pO2a there are significant correlations to barometric pressure, in particular for the young age groups. PO2A and AaDO2 show closer correlations to barometric pressure in the middle range of pO2a (65--84 mm Hg). This points to different regulating mechanisms. A correction with a uniform factor is not possible and, for clinical purposes, unnecessary, since the influence of changing barometric pressure on pO2a is only about 1--3 mm Hg.