Mohammed Jeelani1, Mohammad Muzammil Ahmed2
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.
