Impacts of Environmental Aerosols and Gases on Public Health

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Within recent decades people have become more and more concerned about the impact of air pollutants on human health. Besides the direct affects on health indirect effects, like the greenhouse effect and the ozone hole, are gaining high priority. Various components attract differing attention within the research community. Certainly, special regional problems require particular emphasis on research programs. The sudden change of the political and economic situation in Europe also results in a shift of emphasis. SO₂ and particulates as the classic components of air pollution are, at least regionally, still of interest. Because of exploding vehicular traffic CO, NO_x and hydrocarbons were becoming more important in the last decade. Not only their own toxicity but especially the importance of the latter ones as precursors for the formation of ozone keeps their priority level high. Another issue of increasing importance is indoor pollution from various sources. Although many controlled laboratory experiments have been completed on the effects caused by single components, there is still a lack in information about combined effects. Most epidemiological studies about carcinogenic or other long term effects to the respiratory system suffer from the overwhelming influence of smoking or other unknown confounders. So risk assessment for radiation (radon), environmental carcinogenic substances or respiratory irritant gases is still difficult and controversial.