Biomaterial Database

Environmental factors and atmospheric pollutants. 1991

M W Frampton, and J M Samet, and M J Utell

Pulmonary and Critical Care Unit, University of Rochester Medical Center, NY 14642.

Respiratory infections result from complex interactions between the infectious organism and the host, and exposure to environmental pollutants may alter host resistance. The atmospheric pollutants implicated in respiratory infections include acidic aerosols, particles, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide, and household allergens. An extensive epidemiological literature has been established linking environmental tobacco smoke to increased occurrence of lower respiratory tract infections in children; exposure to smoke from cooking and heating fires may also increase the risk of serious infections. Experimental evidence suggests that exposure to nitrogen dioxide and acidic aerosols may impair specific host defense mechanisms. Individuals with underlying lung or heart disease, as well as infants and the elderly, are among those most susceptible to the effects of environmental pollutants. Efforts should be directed toward reducing the exposure of children to environmental tobacco smoke and products of unvented combustion while investigations continue.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011203	Poverty	A situation in which the level of living of an individual, family, or group is below the standard of the community. It is often related to a specific income level.	Federal Poverty Level,Federal Poverty Threshold,Indigency,Low-Income Population,Absolute Poverty,Extreme Poverty,Indigents,Low Income Population,Federal Poverty Levels,Indigent,Level, Federal Poverty,Low Income Populations,Low-Income Populations,Population, Low Income,Population, Low-Income,Poverty Level, Federal,Poverty Threshold, Federal,Poverty, Absolute,Poverty, Extreme
D012141	Respiratory Tract Infections	Invasion of the host RESPIRATORY SYSTEM by microorganisms, usually leading to pathological processes or diseases.	Respiratory System Infections,Upper Respiratory Tract Infection,Upper Respiratory Tract Infections,Infections, Respiratory,Infections, Respiratory Tract,Infections, Upper Respiratory,Infections, Upper Respiratory Tract,Respiratory Infections,Upper Respiratory Infections,Infection, Respiratory System,Infection, Respiratory Tract,Respiratory Infection, Upper,Respiratory System Infection,Respiratory Tract Infection
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000393	Air Pollutants	Any substance in the air which could, if present in high enough concentration, harm humans, animals, vegetation or materials. Substances include GASES; PARTICULATE MATTER; and volatile ORGANIC CHEMICALS.	Air Pollutant,Air Pollutants, Environmental,Environmental Air Pollutants,Environmental Pollutants, Air,Air Environmental Pollutants,Pollutant, Air,Pollutants, Air,Pollutants, Air Environmental,Pollutants, Environmental Air
D012923	Social Class	A stratum of people with similar position and prestige; includes social stratification. Social class is measured by criteria such as education, occupation, and income.	Caste,Social Gradients,Socioeconomic Level,Socioeconomic Status,Middle Class Population,Castes,Class, Social,Gradient, Social,Level, Socioeconomic,Middle Class Populations,Population, Middle Class,Social Classes,Social Gradient,Socioeconomic Levels,Status, Socioeconomic
D014028	Tobacco Smoke Pollution	Contamination of the air by tobacco smoke.	Air Pollution, Tobacco Smoke,Environmental Pollution, Tobacco Smoke,Passive Smoking,Smoking, Passive,Environmental Smoke Pollution, Tobacco,Environmental Tobacco Smoke Pollution,Involuntary Smoking,Second Hand Smoke,Secondhand Smoke,Secondhand Smoking,Hand Smoke, Second,Hand Smokes, Second,Involuntary Smokings,Passive Smokings,Pollution, Tobacco Smoke,Pollutions, Tobacco Smoke,Second Hand Smokes,Secondhand Smokes,Secondhand Smokings,Smoke Pollution, Tobacco,Smoke Pollutions, Tobacco,Smoke, Second Hand,Smoke, Secondhand,Smokes, Second Hand,Smokes, Secondhand,Smoking, Involuntary,Smoking, Secondhand,Smokings, Involuntary,Smokings, Passive,Smokings, Secondhand,Tobacco Smoke Pollutions
D014481	United States	A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.
D016902	Air Pollution, Indoor	The contamination of indoor air.	Air Quality, Indoor,Indoor Air Pollution,Indoor Air Quality,Pollution, Indoor Air