Biologic markers--indicators of biological exposure or change--offer the promise of early detection of disease caused by environmental exposure. Researchers have used these markers to discover indications of pulmonary damage from low-level ozone, a finding with serious implications for health professionals and environmental regulators. Biologic Markers in Pulmonary Toxicology is a comprehensive study of this use of biologic markers. Focusing on the respiratory tract as an entryway for airborne pollutants, this volume reviews new ways of measuring markers, the need for markers to indicate dose or exposure levels, noninvasive respiratory function tests for use with healthy humans to detect sensitivity to inhaled pollutants, approaches to evaluating markers down to the cellular and biochemical levels, and more.

Contents

• Subcommittee on Pulmonary Toxicology
• Committee on Biologic Markers
• Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology
• Commission on Life Sciences
• Preface
• Executive Summary
• 1. Introduction
  • Types of Biologic Markers
  • Validation Of Biologic Markers
  • Use Of Biologic Markers In The Respiratory Tract
  • Structure Of The Report
• 2. Markers of Exposure
  • Deposition Of Inhaled Material In The Respiratory Tract
  • Clearance of Inhaled Material from the Respiratory Tract
  • Monitoring for Inhaled Material
  • Mathematical Modeling of Exposure
  • Clinical Techniques for Gathering Data
  • Summary
• 3. Markers of Physiologic Effects in Intact Organisms
  • Respiratory Function
  • Airway Hyperreactivity
  • Clearance Of Particles From The Respiratory Tract
  • Injury To Air-Blood Barrier
  • Summary
• 4. Markers of Altered Structure or Function
  • Whole Lung
  • Airways
  • Parenchyma
  • Pulmonary Vasculature
  • In Vivo Observations of Pulmonary Vasculature
• 5. Markers of Inflammatory and Immune Response
  • Inflammatory Response To Inhaled Toxins
  • Inflammatory Response To Microbial Infections
  • Immune Response
• 6. Markers of Cellular and Biochemical Response
  • Sources of Respiratory Tract Markers
  • Potential Markers in Respiratory Tract Fluids
  • Molecular Markers
• 7. Conclusions and Recommendations
  • Dosimetry
  • Physiologic Measurements
  • Structure and Function
  • Cellular and Biochemical Response
• References
• Biographies

The project was supported by the Environmental Protection Agency; the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act Trust Fund through cooperative agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, U.S. Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services.

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

This report has been reviewed by a group other than the authors according to procedures approved by a Report Review Committee consisting of members of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine.

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government of scientific and technical matters. Dr. Frank Press is president of the National Academy of Sciences.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Robert M. White is president of the National Academy of Engineering.

The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Samuel O. Thier is president of the Institute of Medicine.

The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy's purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Frank Press and Dr. Robert M. White are chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the National Research Council.