SAPALDIA: methods and participation in the cross-sectional part of the Swiss Study on Air Pollution and Lung Diseases in Adults.

SAPALDIA--the Swiss Study on Air Pollution and Lung Diseases in Adults--focuses on the long term health effects of low to moderate levels of air pollutants as typically seen in different parts of Switzerland. The aim of the SAPALDIA cross-sectional study carried out in 1991 was to determine the prevalence of bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis and allergic conditions in the adult population of Switzerland and to identify and to determine the respective importance of potentially influencing factors. These could be both personal (smoking habits, allergy status, family history, occupation) and environmental (outdoor and indoor pollution, aeroallergens, climate).

Lung function and long term exposure to air pollutants in Switzerland. Study on Air Pollution and Lung Diseases in Adults (SAPALDIA) Team.

The effect of long-term exposure to air pollutants was studied in a cross-sectional population-based sample of adults (aged 18 to 60 yr; n = 9,651) residing in eight different areas in Switzerland. Standardized medical examination included questionnaire data, lung function tests, skin-prick testing, and end-expiratory CO concentration. The impact of annual means of air pollutants on FVC and FEV1 was tested (controlling for age and age squared, sex, height, weight, educational level, nationality, and workplace exposure).

[Acute effects of the natural atmospheric ozone exposure on lung function of clinically normal smokers and non-smokers].

The influence of moderate ambient ozone exposure on spirometric lung function and bronchial responsiveness was analyzed in 13 healthy adult nonsmokers and 11 asymptomatic smokers. The study was divided into an initial investigation at low atmospheric ozone concentrations of about 80 (range 68-102) micrograms/m3 and a subsequent similar testing at moderately elevated ozone concentrations above 140 (range 145-205) micrograms/m3. Overall there was a slight but significant impairment in forced expiratory volumes (p less than 0.

[Transtracheal oxygen therapy in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome].

In a prospective trial we studied the effect of nocturnal low-flow oxygen administration in 10 consecutive patients with obstructive sleep apnea. In 5 patients the clinical symptoms disappeared completely under nasal oxygen administration and hypoxic episodes decreased from an average of 28 to 3 per hour. In the remaining 5 patients nasal oxygen alone was not sufficiently effective.