It is previously shown that air bag systems using sodium azide as the gas generant can initiate asthmatic attacks in susceptible individuals. To evaluate whether the effluents from new generation non-azide air bag systems also have the potential to produce adverse responses, the authors of this paper performed controlled exposures of mild to moderate asthmatics to the effluents from six of these air bag systems. Each volunteer asthmatic subject was pulmonary function tested (baseline), and then seated in the back seat of the test vehicle. The air bag system was deployed and the subjects remained in the vehicle for twenty minutes. Pulmonary function testing was again performed immediately after the exposure, and two hours after the exposure. Average particulate levels in the passenger compartment ranged from 12.2-133.3 mg/m3. Ranges for the measured gases were: carbon monoxide (CO) = 63-416 ppm; nitrogen oxide (NO) = 8.7-68.7 ppm; and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) = 0.3-6.5 ppm. Four of the six new systems tested produced effluents that initiated clinically significant asthmatic reactions in several of the asthmatic subjects. In contrast to the sodium azide systems, the particulate levels attained in the passenger compartment were not a predictor of whether asthmatic reactions would occur.
Abstract