[Bronchopulmonary diseases and the environment: a generation problem. The environment and pneumology: recognizing...

The bronchopulmonary system is at particular risk from environmental pollution. At the same time, numerous natural and personal confounding variables are also effective, and investigations need to give then careful consideration. In particular such diseases as pulmonary emphysema, bronchitis, obstructive airways diseases and carcinoma of the lung may be due to environmental factors. Highly reliable methods of detecting such diseases are presented. The use of these methods by specially trained staff with the requisite skills and knowledge, is a precondition for reliable results. Numerous uncertainties associated with these requirements led to a certain unreliability of the results obtained in earlier studies. Provided that the above requirements are met, the present state of the technological art makes it possible to identify even more subtle damage that can be caused by environmental factors.