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Elementary schools in four areas of Greater Chattanooga were selected for a study of the effects of community exposure to nitrogen dioxide. One area, in close proximity to a large TNT plant, had high NO2 exposure, another had relatively high suspended particulate exposure, and two areas served as “clean” controls. The similarity of the economic levels of the High-NO2 and Control areas and the moderately lower economic level of the High-Particulate area were documented. Pollutant concentrations for NO2 gas, suspended nitrates and sulfates, total suspended particulates, and soiling index were measured at stations located within the study areas. Ventilatory performance of second-grade school children in the High-NO2 exposure area was significantly lower than the performance of children in the Control areas. The data suggested that ventilatory performance was adversely affected only when an NO2 threshold was exceeded but that above this threshold no further impairment of performance could be detected.
Shy et al. (Sat,) studied this question.