Response of individuals with reactive airway disease to sulfates and other atmospheric pollutants.

Severity of daytime and nighttime symptoms and medication requirements of 34 asthmatic volunteers were correlated to pollutant-pollen levels and to meteorologic characteristics continuously recorded over an eight-month period. Results of this longitudinal study suggest that as many as 9% of asthmatics may be sensitive to levels of sulfate in the ambient air and that reduction of sulfate levels to below 10 microgram/ml3 would significantly reduce tha frequency and severity of symptoms and needs for medication in these individuals.