Solar and geomagnetic activity reduces pulmonary function and enhances particulate pollution effects.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Increased solar and geomagnetic activity (SGA) may alter sympathetic nervous system activity, reduce antioxidant activity, and modulate physiochemical processes that contribute to atmospheric aerosols, all which may reduce pulmonary function.

Objectives

Investigate associations between forced expiratory volume at 1 s (FEV₁) and forced vital capacity (FVC) with SGA, and assess whether SGA enhances adverse effects of particulate pollution, black carbon (BC) and particulate matter ≤2.5 μm in diameter (PM_2.5).

Methods

We conducted a repeated measures analysis in 726 Normative Aging Study participants (Boston, Massachusetts, USA) between 2000 and 2017, using interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), planetary K index (Kp), and sunspot number (SS

SUBMITTER: Anand K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9552041 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature