The UCLA population studies of chronic obstructive respiratory disease. 3. Comparison of pulmonary function in three communities exposed to photochemical oxidants, multiple primary pollutants, or minimal pollutants.

The respiratory status of residents of three areas exposed to (1) photochemical oxidants (Burbank, Calif), (2) sulfur dioxide, parliculates, and hydrocarbons (Long Beach, Calif), and (3) low levels of pollutants (Lancaster, Calif) was determined using a modified National Heart and Lung Institute questionnaire, electronic volume spirometric studies, the single-breath nitrogen washout test, and body pletbysmographic studies. Each area under study was within 2 km of a monitoring station of the Southern California Air Quality Management District. Seventy to 79 percent of the residents of enumerated households completed testing. Results of retesting a 3 percent probabifity sample at the Pulmonary Function Laboratory of the University of California, Los Angeles, indicated reasonable repeatability for all tests except the single-breath nitrogen test. Among the three areas, participants from Lancaster, Calif (low pollution), had the greatest number of “best” performance values and the least number of “worst” performance values for