ABSTRACT
The birth of an air-breathing mammal presents it with a formidable problem. Effective action has been taken in most Western countries to reduce air pollution, with undoubtedly beneficial effects on public health in the large industrial cities. The relevance of mineral particles to man’s health probably first became apparent in the Middle Ages with the recognition that work as a miner was followed by premature death from lung disease. Studies of the adverse health effects of asbestos have given rise to understandable anxiety that other substitute fibres used in industry might have similar adverse effects on health. The story of the study of health effects of particles to date shows that an understanding of the epidemiological relationships between exposure and response can lead to effective preventive measures even in the absence of an understanding of the precise mechanisms involved.
