Hydrogen Gas Helps Protect Lungs from Air Pollution in Workers
Protective effect of hydrogen on the lung of sanitation workers exposed to haze
Research hubs: Respiratory System
- Evidence type
- Randomized controlled trial · Human study
- Authors
- Z.J. Gong, J.T. Guan, X.Z. Ren, D.Y. Meng, H.R. Zhang, B.L. Wang, X.X. Yan
- Journal
- Chinese Journal of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
- Year
- 2016
- PMID
- 27938540
- Study Type
- Human
- Participants
- 96
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- H2:O2 mixture (66.67%:33.33%) 1 hour per day for 30 days
- H₂ concentration
- 66.67% H2
- Duration
- 30 days
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 8 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen gas helped reduce lung inflammation and improved breathing for sanitation workers exposed to air pollution.
Key Finding
Sanitation workers who inhaled hydrogen gas for one hour daily over 30 days showed significantly improved lung function and reduced airway inflammation markers compared to those who received placebo, along with fewer respiratory symptoms like cough.
Summary
This study tested whether breathing a hydrogen-oxygen mixture could protect the lungs of sanitation workers exposed to air pollution in China. Ninety-six workers either inhaled a hydrogen-oxygen mixture or a placebo mixture for one hour daily over 30 days. Workers who received hydrogen showed improvements in lung function, reduced markers of airway inflammation (including lower FeNO levels, which indicate airway swelling), and reported fewer respiratory symptoms like cough compared to the placebo group.
Practical Takeaway
This small human study suggests hydrogen inhalation may help protect lungs from air pollution exposure, but the findings are limited to one occupational group in a specific geographic area during a short 30-day period. More research in diverse populations and over longer timeframes would be needed before drawing broader conclusions about hydrogen's protective effects for general air pollution exposure.
Abstract (excerpt)
Objective: To study the protective effect of hydrogen inhalation on the lungs of sanitation workers exposed to haze. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial, 96 sanitation workers living in Shijiazhuang urban area were recruited during January to February, 2016…