[Pneumological aspects of environmental medicine. Medical relevance of environmental pollution of outdoor air (1)].

The most important pollutants of industrial air pollution of the external air are sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitric oxides (NOX), oxygen radicals (ozone, O3) and sulfur dust. Brief detrimental effects on respiratory function of adults with healthy lungs are only observed during relatively high concentration of the pollutant, i.e. sulfur dioxide concentrations above 1500 micrograms/m3 or ozone 400 micrograms/m3. However, such a view of single pollutants is without medical relevance since all pollutants usually take effect as a pathological synergism in changing concentrations. Significant disturbances of the air ways may be found in sensitive persons (children, persons with air way problems, or cardiac and circulatory diseases) already after a slight increase in pollutant concentrations. It is assumed that the observed pollutant concentrations in the atmosphere close to the ground do not result in a permanent impact to health even under the circumstance of a combined effect.