| One of the biggest problems facing our world today is | | | | "Smokers tended to have a greater reduction in VC, |
| smoking, or more specifically smoking tobacco. Study | | | | FVC, and FEV1/FVC relative to nonsmokers and an |
| of the respiratory system and the effects of smoking | | | | elevated RV/TLC ratio". All of these previous |
| on the respiratory system is one of the examined | | | | experiments clearly support the hypotheses stated in |
| health issues in our day. Emphysema, many different | | | | this laboratory experiment report, except for FVC |
| cancers, birth defects, and other severe lung problems | | | | which shouldn't be affected by tobacco smoke |
| are the result of smoking or other tobacco products. | | | | according to this support data, this information goes |
| The question posed by this laboratory experiment is to | | | | against what was previously hypothesized for the |
| see the affects of smoking related to immediate | | | | affects of smoking on FVC values. |
| pulmonary functions on young adults. | | | | The data was gathered using a spirometer connected |
| The direct inhalation of tobacco smoke occurs first at | | | | via Powerlab software and measured a broad range |
| the mouth, the smoke travels down the trachea, | | | | of pulmonary functions. |
| through the bronchi to each lung, then down to the | | | | Materials and Methods: |
| bronchioles and into the alveolar and alveoli. The alveoli | | | | This experiment was preformed to examine the lung |
| are where the greatest destruction is caused by | | | | volumes and capacities, and many other pulmonary |
| tobacco smoke. | | | | functions. The experiment was conducted on the |
| This experiment is a perfect opportunity to study the | | | | students from all sections of biology 153 at the |
| affects of smoking on young adults in particular, and | | | | University of Kentucky. A spirometry test was |
| tobacco's initial health effects on the user. If smoking is | | | | preformed while at rest and after exercise, all data |
| directly related to a decrease in pulmonary function, | | | | was collected with Powerlab software. All data was |
| then people who smoke more than one pack a week | | | | correlated and compiled using Microsoft Excel. This |
| or heavy smokers will show a dramatic difference in | | | | data should be relatively precise given that it was all |
| pulmonary measurements such as vital capacity (VC), | | | | gathered and collected by computer software. |
| functional residual capacity (FRC), forced vital capacity | | | | Procedures were followed as prescribed by the |
| (FVC), and the ratio of forced expired volume in one | | | | respiration bulletin-experimental guide. |
| second (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC), | | | | As detailed previously many pulmonary functions were |
| Compared to mild-smokers (less than or equal to one | | | | tested and correlated using data gathered by the |
| pack of cigarettes per week) or non-smokers. These | | | | spirometer, and Powerlab software. It effectively |
| will be the hypotheses tested in this lab report. If | | | | measured all of the values that are to be examined in |
| smoking does in fact affect these pulmonary functions | | | | this lab report (FVC, VC, and FEV1/FVC ratio). FRC |
| then there will be a noticeable difference in these | | | | was calculated using information gathered by the |
| values between the heavy smokers, mild-smokers, | | | | spirometer. |
| and non-smokers. | | | | The level of treatment in this experiment was the |
| The expected results of these tests would be | | | | amount of smoking. The three categories included level |
| anticipated to yield a great difference in the pulmonary | | | | 1 (heavy smokers) and is indicated by the consumption |
| functions to be tested among the groups of individuals. | | | | of more than one pack per week, level 2 (mild |
| Greater differences among these results should be | | | | smokers) who consume less than but up to one pack |
| present in the data for after exercise was preformed | | | | per week, and level 3 (non-smokers) which consume |
| in the group of smokers. | | | | zero cigarettes per week. |
| A previous study indicated that "Abnormal spirometry | | | | The data was not replicated among individuals but |
| (i.e., limitation of expiratory airflow, airways obstruction, | | | | was replicated 62 times over the entire Bio 153 |
| or a low FEV1/FVC ratio the degree of airways | | | | department among the students; two measurements |
| obstruction correlates closely with pathologic changes | | | | of pulmonary function were conducted on each |
| in the lungs of smokers and patients with COPD | | | | student that preformed the test once at rest and once |
| (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)". This | | | | after exercise. The control group for this experiment |
| provides more evidenced that the tests should provide | | | | was the non-smoker group, since they should have |
| noticeable differences in the FEV1/FVC ratio. Another | | | | normal and unaltered pulmonary functions, given that |
| study specifies that "smokers, ex-smokers, and | | | | none of the students measured have any restrictive or |
| never-smokers had similar FVC and static lung | | | | obstructive disorders. |
| volumes". Which indicates this lab report should not | | | | The population studied contained 62 individuals, 36 |
| yield any differences in FVC values between the | | | | females and 26 males. 34 non-smokers, 19 heavy |
| groups of individuals studied. An alternative study also | | | | smokers, and 5 mild smokers, this population size and |
| suggested that "mean FRC and RV were higher of | | | | characteristics were sufficient for the experiment |
| smokers had a significantly reduced FEV1" (Clark et al. | | | | conducted. Data was correlated into their respective |
| 2001). This provides more support for the hypotheses | | | | groups and measured for each of the values to be |
| presented in this lab report will yield expected results. | | | | tested; graphs were used to make it easy to see |
| The final piece of supportive data states that | | | | immediate differences among the group's variables. |