Background: Limited data are available on the effect of a poor indoor climate on the respiratory health of adults. No data are available regarding the contribution of indoor exposures to the burden of respiratory symptoms in the population. Methods: In 1996–7 a community sample of 3181 adults aged 26–82 years was invited to participate in a survey on indoor climate and respiratory health in Hor...

BACKGROUND Limited data are available on the effect of a poor indoor climate on the respiratory health of adults. No data are available regarding the contribution of indoor exposures to the burden of respiratory symptoms in the population. METHODS In 1996-7 a community sample of 3181 adults aged 26-82 years was invited to participate in a survey on indoor climate and respiratory health in Hor...

Propylene oxide (1,2-epoxypropane) is a nasal toxicant and weak site-of-contact carcinogen in the rodent. The current study was aimed at providing quantitative information on upper respiratory tract (URT) dosimetry of this vapor. Since depletion of nasal non-protein sulfhydryls (NPSH) may be important in the toxicity of this vapor and may serve as a biomarker for delivery of propylene oxide to ...

We describe a lab setup for analyzing impairments of terahertz (THz) and infrared (IR) free space links caused by local refraction index changes in the signal's propagation paths that could be induced by turbulence, particles, humidity, etc. A THz signal comprising a 2.5 Gb/s data load modulated on a carrier at 625 GHz, is launched through a weather emulating chamber, detected, and its performa...

BACKGROUND Although significant epidemiological evidence indicates that cigarette smoke exposure increases the incidence and severity of viral infection, the molecular mechanisms behind the increased susceptibility of the respiratory tract to viral pathogens are unclear. Adenoviruses are non-enveloped DNA viruses and important causative agents of acute respiratory disease. The Coxsackievirus an...

RATIONALE Associations between oligomeric isocyanate exposure, sensitization, and respiratory disease have received little attention, despite the extensive use of isocyanate oligomers. OBJECTIVES To investigate exposure-response relationships of respiratory symptoms and sensitization in a large population occupationally exposed to isocyanate oligomers during spray painting. METHODS The prev...

OBJECTIVE The effects of passive smoke exposure on respiratory health are still under debate. Therefore, we examined the risk of respiratory symptoms related to passive smoke exposure among German adults within the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. METHODS The questionnaire data of the population-based sample (n = 1,890) were analyzed. Multiple logistic regression models were carr...

Many studies reviewed show that both workplace exposure to organic dust and smoking may cause chronic respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation in susceptible subjects. We performed a case-control study including 63 tea workers (36 male and 27 female, aged 36-55, duration of employment 3–30 years) and an equal number of office workers, matched by sex and age. Chronic respiratory symptoms (chr...