Detection of chronic respiratory bronchiolitis in oxidant-exposed populations: analogy to tobacco smoke exposure.

Studies in nonhuman primates indicate that one pathophysiologic consequence of ozone exposure is chronic bronchiolitis in terminal bronchioles. Modeling dosimetry suggests that a similar phenomenon is possible in humans. These findings may constitute an important analogy to the respiratory bronchiolitis that is associated with tobacco smoking in young adults. This analogy could form the basis for future research related to chronic respiratory health effects of ozone. The smoking data are reviewed and several research strategies are proposed that will be developed more fully in subsequent articles in this volume.