ABSTRACT
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide are important ambient air pollutants. High-intensity, confined
space exposure to NO2 has caused catastrophic injury to humans, including death. Ambient NO2 exposure may increase the risk of respiratory tract infections through the pollutant’s
interaction with the immune system. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) contributes to respiratory symptoms in both healthy patients and those with underlying
pulmonary disease. Controlled human exposure studies have demonstrated that experimental
SO2 exposure causes changes in airway physiology, including increased airways resistance.
Both acute and chronic exposure to carbon monoxide are associated with increased risk
for adverse cardiopulmonary events, including death. However, studies have not demonstrated
a clear dose-dependent health risk response to increasing amounts of these pollutants
except at high concentrations. In addition, a number of studies examining the effects
of ambient level exposure to NO2, SO2, and CO have failed to find associations with adverse health outcomes.
KEY INDEXING TERMS
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
January 10,
2007
Received:
November 13,
2005
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Southern Society for Clinical Investigation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
