Environmental Factors in Respiratory Disease

Environmental Factors in Respiratory Disease provides an overview of the state of knowledge on the role of environmental factors in respiratory disease. The book opens with a discussion of some trends and developments which bear on concerns with respiratory disease and the environment. This is followed by separate chapters on pulmonary anatomy and physiology as it relates to the problem of environmental factors in respiratory disease; various tracheobronchial responses to insult; the response of alveoli of the lung to damaging agents; and effects of chronic respiratory disease on lung and heart functions. Subsequent chapters deal with environmental pollutants, their routes of transport, and impact on lung function; specific reactions of the lung that can be attributed to a particular material or agent; host defense mechanisms in the lung; and interactions of infectious diseases and air pollutants. This text will be helpful to those who need to know the state of current knowledge on the health significance of environmental factors in respiratory disease but who do not have the time to pursue the detailed literature or to seek a compilation directed to their special needs.

ContributorsEditorial CommentChapter 1. Introduction: a Changing Environment-a Problem for All Changing Patterns in Health Changing Patterns in Technology Occupational Exposures Community Air Pollution Personal Habits Home Environment Comment ReferencesPart 1. The Lung and Its Basic Reactions Chapter 2. Anatomy and Physiology of the Lung Airways Pulmonary Circulation The Terminal Respiratory Units Methods of Study References Chapter 3. Tracheobronchial Response to Insult Acute Responses Chronic Responses Neoplasia References Chapter 4. Modes of Alveolar Response to Insult Organization of the Alveolar Zone Control of Alveolar Fluid Clearance Failure Interstitial Connective Tissue References Chapter 5. The Effects of Chronic Respiratory Disease on the Function of the Lungs and Heart Restriction of Inspiration Airway Obstruction Maldistribution of Air and Blood in the Lungs Impairment of Oxygen Diffusion ReferencesPart II. Lung Responses to Environmental Factors Chapter 6. Airborne Contaminants Sources, Nature, and Relation to Respiratory Effects Entry into and Removal from the Respiratory System References Chapter 7. Action through Channels Other than Airborne Agents Entering through the Skin Agents Entering from the Alimentary Canal Direct Transmission through the Chest Wall Secondary Effects from Environmentally Induced Lesions Elsewhere Action on the Lung Effects of the Herbicide Paraquat References Chapter 8. Some Specific Effects of Environmental Agents Text References Chapter 9. Environmental Factors in Chronic Lung Disease Chronic Lung Disease in Adults Chronic Lung Disease in Children References Chapter 10. Host Variables in Pulmonary Responses to the Environment Defense Mechanisms Method of Measurement Baseline Measurements in Normals Effects of Single Agents Interactions and Multiple Effects References Chapter 11. Interaction of Infectious Disease and Air Pollutants: Influence of "Tolerance" Bacterial Infections Virus Infection Mode of Action Enhancement By Chronic Exposure Tolerance to Oxidant Gases Interaction of Nonoxidant Air Pollutants with Infectious Agents Implications for Air Quality Criteria ReferencesPart III. Some Special Problems Chapter 12. Smoking Habits and Air Pollution in Relation to Lung Cancer Smoking Urban Air Pollution Conclusion References Chapter 13. Occupational Lung Diseases Occupational Lung Diseases-1971 Important Variables Environmental Considerations References Chapter 14. Epidemic Asthma Seasonal Variations Castor Pomace Allergy New Orleans Asthma Minneapolis Asthma Yokohama Asthma Summary References Chapter 15. Environmental Factors in Bronchial Asthma Season of the Year Climatic Conditions Air Pollution Summary and Conclusions References Chapter 16. Towards an Optimum Environment Chapter 17. Conclusions and Reservations Recapitulation Distillation Implementation