Pulmonary Function in Prepubescent Boys: The Influence of Passive Smoking and Sports Training

In this paper, we studied prepubescent boys (N = 75; 11.3 years ± 2 months) divided into three groups: two experimental groups and age-paired, non-systematically physically engaged controls (N = 25). Th e experimental groups consisted of 27 basketball players, and of 23 dinghy sailors. Th e pulmonary function was established measuring the large airway variables (inspiratory-vital-capacity, forced-vital-capacity, one-secondforced-expiratory-volume) and small airway variables (peak-expiratory-fl ow, and maximal-expiratory-fl ow aft er 50% and 75% exhalation). All variables were measured in absolute values and then presented and compared in relative values predicted for age and stature. Using the simple originally constructed questionnaire, passive smoking status was observed, and the subjects were additionally sub-sampled as passive smokers, or non-exposed to passive smoking. Th e multivariateanalysis-of-the-variance (MANOVA) showed signifi cant dominance (p < 0.05) of the experimental groups in the large airways variables and small airways variables, for the NS exclusively. No signifi cant MANOVA diff erences were found between the basketball players and sailors, and between the non-exposed to passive smoking and passive smoking in any of the studied groups. Th e results of the present study indicate a positive infl uence of the systematic physical exercising on the pulmonary function, with no diff erential eff ects of the two-year basketball and dinghy sailing sports training on the pulmonary function.