Air pollution and respiratory health.

Air pollution is frequently incriminated as a risk factor in the development of chronic lung impairment and in the aggravation of existing disease. The federal government has set primary air quality standards to protect public health and secondary standards to protect public welfare (eg, to preserve vegetation and buildings). Much of the debate surrounding the development and evaluation of air standards focuses on the diseases of patients with whom the respiratory care practitioner has daily contact. We review the legislative efforts to protect the public from the effects of air pollution and provide insight into some of the scientific and medical dilemmas involved in this current public health issue.