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Background: Cigarette smoke is the major and most common indoor source of carbon monoxide. CO combines with haemoglobin to form carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) which hinders oxygen transport and causes myocardial infarction and coronary heart disease. CO damages the endothelium of large and medium arteries and contributes to the development of atherosclerosis., Material and Method: Participants in the study included 148 active and 306 passive smokers. In both groups the largest proportion of respondents were aged 30-49. Numbers of male and female participants were identical among the active smokers, while the majority of the passive smokers were women. Majority of the participants in both groups lived in large towns (over 100,000 inhabitants). The levels of exhaled CO were measured with Micro+smokerlyzer distributed in Poland by Synecpol. Every participant was provided with relevant instructions and the test was conducted by trained researchers., Results: The mean level of exhaled carbon monoxide in active smokers was 12.57 ppm with higher levels found in men. The highest mean level of eCO was found in participants with body weight between 60 kg and 80 kg (mean eCO = 13.39 ppm). The highest levels were observed in participants living in towns with 51,000-100,000 inhabitants. In passive smokers, the mean level of exhaled carbon monoxide was 3.55 +/- 1.26 ppm with higher levels found in men., Conclusions: For non-smokers, the study identified a significant relationship between the level of exhaled CO and the participants' gender (p < 0.05), weight (p = 0.003), and height (p = 0.0005). For smokers, there is a relationship between the level of eCO and the daily cigarette consumption (p = 0.01), the type of cigarettes most frequently smoked (p < 0.05) and the favoured cigarette brand (p = 0.005).

Introduction: Measurement of PNIF is often used as a indicator in provocation studies or used for assessment the therapeutic effect of medicines. Unfortunately, there is a lack of norm for this parameter. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess a few variables which are advisable to estimate the norm for PNIF measurements., Material and Methods: The study was a part of the ECAP study (The Epidemiology of Allergic Diseases in Poland). Study group was selected randomly: children aged 6-7, 13-14 and adults. Subjects were inhabitants of 8 cities: Białystok, Gdańsk, Katowice, Kraków, Lublin, Poznań, Warszawa i Wrocław and one village district: zamojski and krasnystawski. PNIF level had been measured among qualified respondents by In-Check inspiratory flow meter manufactured by Clement. Clark. PNIF level was measured before and after application of Oxalin (0,05%) aimed at improve patency of nasal passages. The study was conducted three times, the highest value was noted., Results: There were 4674 qualified subjects, of which 27,6% were children aged 6-7, 27,7%-children aged 13-14 and 44,7%-adults. Results were quantified by Statistica 10 programme and Microsoft Excel programme. Analysis were conducted in regards of sex, age, health status and study area. SEX: Statistically significant higher level of PNIF, as before as after application of medicine, were observed among man than woman. Average level of PNIF after application of medicine among adult man were 151,99 l/min (SD=61,73 l/min), boys aged 13-14-127,62 l/min (SD=53,0), boys aged 6-7- 54,44 l/min (SD=33,44 l/min). Average level of PNIF after application of medicine among adult woman were 119,31 l/min (SD= 45,71 l/min), girls aged 13-14- 109,13 l/min (SD=42,86 l/ min), girls aged 6-7- 61,35 l/min (SD= 31,56 l/min). AGE: There was observed statistically significant difference between age's groups. Average level of PNIF among adults were 131,91 l/min (SD=54,82 l/min), children aged 13-14- 118,68 l/min (SD=49,23 l/min), children aged 6-7- 64,27 l/min (SD=32,64 l/min). Health status: Statistically significant higher level of PNIF were observed among healthy people than sick subjects, among all age's group, except among children aged 6-7. Average level of PNIF, after application of medicine were following: among adults: sick - 128,94 l/min (SD=54,66 l/min), healthy-134,94 l/min (SD=54,84 l/min), children aged 13-14: sick- 116,73 l/min (SD=48,48 l/min), healthy- 120,68 l/min (SD=49,92 l/min) and children aged 6-7: sick- 64,8 l/min (SD=32,25 l/min), healthy- 63,79 l/min (SD=33,0 l/min). Also there was noted statistically significant difference between subject with periodic allergic rhinitis than chronic allergic rhinitis., Study Area: Statistically significant higher level of PNIF was observed among subjects living in urban area than rural area, as before as after application of medicine, among all age's groups., Conclusions: There were found statistically significant differences between age, sex, health status and study area. PNIF measurement is valuable study assessing. PNIF measurement is valuable parameter assessing rhinitis status.