Effect of Air Conditioner on Pulmonary Functions in Healthy Males in and Around Raichur City

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:Air conditioner by lowering temperature may affect human health since it has profound effect on our environment. Modern styles of living in urban areas have been considered potentially responsible for the development of airway allergic diseases due to proliferating house dust mites & increasing concentration of indoor air pollutants, which lead to the elevation of serum Ig E levels or the enhancement of eosinophil activity. AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of air conditioners (AC) on pulmonary functions in young healthy non-smoker male. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group comprised of 20 male subjects who were using AC's in their cars for at least 1 hr daily since last 6 months. While 20 male subjects who did not use AC at all served as controls. The pulmonary functions were assessed using Power lab 8/30 series with dual bio Amp/stimulator, manufactured by AD instruments, Australia, in a closed room the outcome of pulmonary function tests was presented as a mean ± SD for each of the parameter. The two groups were compared by applying unpaired 't' test and P value of less than 0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: The peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and Forced expiratory flow between 25-75% of vital capacity(FEF25-75) were significantly reduced in subjects using car AC's. CONCLUSION: In the presence of normal FEV1, reduced FEF 25-75%, which is the flow rate over the middle half of vital capacity, is an evidence of mild airflow limitation. The result is suggestive of predisposition of AC users towards respiratory disorders in form of mild airflow restriction

Effect of variation in air conditioner temperature on peak expiratory flow rate of air conditioner users

“…Between the two groups of AC users where AC was constantly regulated in between 18°C to 22°C and 23°C to 25°C respectively, PEFR value was significantly lower in the former group in comparison to the later one in case of both male (p value<0.001) and female (p value<0.048 and <0.004). This finding is consistent to that of some researchers [6,12]. These findings may be explained by increased evaporation of water from the airway mucosa on contact with cold, dry air that is inhaled by the AC users.…”

Prevalence of respiratory illness among A.C users at Indore city: A case control analytical study

“…Mohammed Jeelani et al [17] conducted astudy in Navodaya Medical College, Raichur, Karnataka& results of their study shows a predisposition of AC users towards respiratory dysfunction.…”

Air conditioner users are more prone to airway obstruction: A cross sectional study done in Dhaka city, Bangladesh

“…On the other hand, no significant reduction in FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC ratio were found in AC users in comparison to nonusers in some studies [5,8]. The probable reason for the difference in the results may be the difference in the exposure time to AC, as increasing duration of exposure to air conditioner is associated with increased alternation in lung functions [20].…”

“…The probable reason for the difference in the results may be the difference in the exposure time to AC, as increasing duration of exposure to air conditioner is associated with increased alternation in lung functions [20]. In the present study, subjects were exposed to AC for minimum 6 hours per day for at least 5 days per week for the past 2 to 4 years while in those studies the study subjects were exposed to AC for minimum 6 hours per day for at least the last 6 months and for at least 1 hour daily for the last 6 months [5,8].…”

“…Significant alternation in some lung function parameters (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC ratio) were found in air conditioner users when compared to non-users in studies done by some researchers [6,7] while other studies showed no significant change [5,8]. Some researchers showed that these alternations were more suggestive of predisposition of AC users towards developing obstructive lung disorders while others found it to be restrictive [6,8]. So because of these conflicting results, the effects of air conditioner use on lung functions still remain questionable.…”