Abstract
Non smoking, male professional firemen-divers (n = 20) underwent two pulmonary function tests (PFT) separated by 8–9 years. Measured data were compared to European Coal Steel Community recommended reference values to permit cross-sectional and then longitudinal studies. Higher vital capacity (VC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1; bothP<0.001), and lower residual volume (P<0.01) were observed in both PFT. Longitudinal analysis showed a smaller VC reduction than FEV1 reduction, leading to a FEV1/VC percentage decrease with time. Maximal mid expiratory flow (MMEF) and MMEF/VC changes during this 9-year period showed an unusually pronounced decrease, suggesting possible chronic effects of diving on small airways. Thus, it is suggested from our observations that a hyperbaric stimulus compensates in part for the effects of aging on VC and that obstructive disease could occur in subjects with long diving experience.
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Sermon, S., Lapoussière, J.M., Dolisi, C. et al. Pulmonary function of a firemen-diver population: a longitudinal study. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 69, 456–460 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00865412
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00865412