Immune responses to pollutant mixtures from indoor sources

Indoor air pollution occurs as an undesirable consequence of urbanization, energy conservation, indoor bioaerosol contamination, and use of synthetic materials and new technologies, and has become a worldwide concern. It is important to comprehend not only the diversity of pollutant hazards but also to develop novel methods and approaches that establish dose-response relationships, cause-and-effect relationships, and clinical relevance. Coincident with heightened public concern over indoor air pollution and its health consequences, a revolution in immunology has occurred. The immune system is recognized as an essential defensive and homeostatic mechanism. Unfortunately, the immune apparatus is exquisitely sensitive to toxic damage. Equally important, among the disciplines available to assess the health impact of indoor air pollutants, immunology has the capability to provide sensitive and specific tools that may accurately measure relevant clinical effects at tissue, cellular, and molecular levels. Furthermore, exciting new insights into shared communications networks between the immune, endocrine, and central nervous systems may provide future explanations for the myriad human complaints associated with indoor air pollutants.