Background: At high concentrations of ozone occurring during air-pollution episodes, airway sensitivity will increase even in healthy populations. Though there is an indication of the effects of ozone (O3) on COPD and asthma patients, few studies have the effects of short and long-term ozone exposure on them. This study investigates the effects of O3 concentration on COPD and asthma patients in Abuja, Nigeria.
Method: Data were collected on dyspnoea, daily symptoms, monthly FVC, and FEV1 data, routine monitoring O3 data, and meteorological data, we performed correction and multiple regression analyses to calculate the correlation between respiratory disease (COPD and asthma) and ozone exposure.
Results: We observed an association between O3 and lung function (FVC and FEV1). Ozone and FEV1 (-.719, p = .008), and O3 and FVC (-.566, p = 0.055). We observed a larger effect of ozone on lung function (FVC and FEV1) for females (FVC -.792, p = .002; FEV1 -749, p = .005) than males (FVC -.541, p = .070; FEV1 -645, p = .023), We also observed that O3 concentration and daily symptoms showed a significant association (.938, p =.000). Ozone had a greater impact on females than males in respiratory diseases (COPD and asthma). There was also a stronger association between O3 and respiratory condition in the dry season than in the wet season (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Exposure to ozone pollution caused a higher risk to COPD and asthma patients thus worsening their condition. Ozone pollution in Abuja is at a damaging level. The government has a key role to play in control and prevention initiatives to decrease ozone pollution to protect the public. The outcome of this study provides valuable data for further research and improving environmental practice in Nigeria.