title: Blood and air pollution: state of knowledge and research needs.
abstract: The ready access to blood (plasma and formed cellular elements) makes it unusually susceptible to the deleterious effects of pollutants whose origins may be in the air. The red blood cells' hemoglobin may be rendered useless for oxygen transport by combination with carbon monoxide or conversion to methemoglobin or sulfhemoglobin. Lead and arsine can damage the erythrocytes' membranes, resulting in anemia. Metabolites of benzene and other volatile polycyclic hydrocarbons are implicated in the causation of leukemias. The extensive use of pesticides and herbicides may be associated with the development of Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and aplastic anemia. The carcinogenic risks from ionizing radiation, especially for leukemia, are well known. More information is needed concerning the epidemiology of environmental factors responsible for damage to blood. Enhanced knowledge about the molecular biology of toxins' effects on the hematopoietic system and improved detection and prevention technologies are needed to answer environmentally related health questions.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-6600, USA.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Badman
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Jaffé
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D001769:Blood; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000009:adverse effects; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000187:drug effects; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000139:chemically induced; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D012106:Research
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D002273:Carcinogens; D006454:Hemoglobins