Deploying automotive airbags release potential respiratory irritants at high concentrations. We evaluated the respiratory irritants of six contemporary prototype driver/passenger airbag systems, using a previously established USA auto industry protocol for human testing. For each system, ten volunteers with asthma were exposed individually inside an automobile compartment, during deployment and for 20 minutes after. Symptoms and lung function were monitored for two hours after exposure. All airbags systems fulfilled the established standard of no more than three in ten subjects with positive response (defined as clinically meaningful lung function disturbance plus increased asthma symptoms). Three systems evoked no positive responses. Statisticaly significant (P<0.005) differences in lung function and symtom responses between systems were not accurately predictable from measured pollutant concentrations. Conclusions: contemporary airbags designs vary appreciably in their potential to provoke asthma. Airbag testing with potentially susceptible human subjects can be useful in pre-market evaluation.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Evaluation of asthmatic volunteers' pulmonary responses to effluents from automotive airbags


    Additional title:

    Auswertung der Lungenreaktionen von asthmatischen Freiwilligen auf Reizstoffe aus Fahrzeugairbags


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    2005


    Size :

    7 Seiten, 2 Tabellen, 10 Quellen




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English




    Evaluation of asthmatic volunteers pulmonary responses to effluents from automotive airbags

    Linn,W.S. / Gong,H. / Environmental Health Service,US et al. | Automotive engineering | 2005



    Airborne particulates in automotive airbags

    Starner,A.R. / Delphi Interior a.Lighting Systems,US | Automotive engineering | 1998


    Airborne Particulates in Automotive Airbags

    Starner, A. R. / SAE; Passenger Protection Committee | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1998


    Airborne Particulates In Automotive Airbags

    Starner, Allen R. | SAE Technical Papers | 1998