RT Book, Section
A1 Kasper, Dennis L.
A1 Fauci, Anthony S.
A1 Hauser, Stephen L.
A1 Longo, Dan L.
A1 Jameson, J. Larry
A1 Loscalzo, Joseph
SR Print(0)
ID 1128786383
T1 Environmental Lung Diseases
T2 Harrison's Manual of Medicine, 19e
YR 2016
FD 2016
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9780071828529
LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1128786383
RD 2024/04/19
AB The  susceptibility  to  develop  many  pulmonary  diseases  is  influenced  by  environmental  factors.  This  chapter  will  focus  on  occupational  and  toxic  chemical  exposures.  However,  a  variety  of  nonoccupational  indoor  exposures  such  as  environmental  tobacco  smoke  exposure  (lung  cancer),  radon  gas  (lung  cancer),  and  biomass  fuel  cooking  (chronic  obstructive  pulmonary  disease  [COPD])  also  should  be  considered.  Particle  size  is  an  important  determinant  of  the  impact  of  inhaled  environmental  exposures  on  the  respiratory  system.  Particles  >10  μm  in  diameter  typically  are  captured  by  the  upper  airway.  Particles  2.5–10  μm  in  diameter  will  likely  deposit  in  the  upper  tracheobronchial  tree,  while  smaller  particles  (including  nanoparticles)  will  reach  the  alveoli.  Water-soluble  gases  like  ammonia  are  absorbed  in  the  upper  airways  and  produce  irritative  and  bronchoconstrictive  responses,  while  less  water-soluble  gases  (e.g.,  phosgene)  may  reach  the  alveoli  and  cause  a  life-threatening  acute  chemical  pneumonitis.