Session Summary: Mechanisms of Particulate Toxicity

The plausibility of low concentrations of air pollution particles having diameters less than 10 mu m causing adverse biological effects was explored in several papers given at this conference, which are briefly summarized. Three perspectives of biological plausibility were examined, including dosimetric, toxicologic and clinical aspects. Toxicologic studies showed that the acidity of the particles was important, and that the surface area and number of particles was a factor in adverse health effects. Future research should take advantage of technological advances in assessment of lung injury in the search for a chronic lung disease animal model.