Lung capacity of males from the Ok Tedi region, Western Province, Papua New Guinea.
Ninety-three men, representatives of the Wopkaimin, Ningerum and Awin ethnic groups in the Ok Tedi region of Western Province, Papua New Guinea, had their forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity measured. No differences were observed between any of the groups studied, though volumes were small and tended to be slightly greater in those living nearer Tabubil and the Ok Tedi mine, and in nonsmokers. Mean adjusted volumes were smaller than those for other Papua New Guineans and Europeans.