title: Occupational airways diseases from chronic low-level exposures to irritants.
abstract: Short-term, high-level exposures to dusts, gases, mists, fumes, and smoke that are irritating to the respiratory tract are capable of inducing asthma, the so-called reactive airways dysfunction syndrome. Such exposures, however, do not occur frequently; chronic or recurrent exposures to lower levels of irritants are much more common. This article reviews the evidence that supports the concept that low-level exposures to respiratory tract irritants can contribute to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.
authors.affiliation: Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, Box 0843, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Balmes
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007509:Irritants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D007509:Irritants