Airway response to short-term inhalation of tobacco smoke. Lack of racial differences.

Abstract

Airway response to short-term inhalation of cigarette smoke was studied in healthy black subjects. We have measured thoracic gas volume, airway resistance, maximum expiratory flow rates, and closing volume in 12 healthy black volunteers before and after smoking a cigarette. We found a significant reduction in airway conductance and midexpiratory flow rate after smoking the cigarette. The results are similar to those previously observed in white subjects. We conclude from our study that the response to short-term inhalation of cigarette smoke is identical in both white and black subjects.