ABSTRACT
This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part reviews the long-term reversible and irreversible changes in animals as a result of NO2 exposure. It presents the epidemiological data relating childhood illness and pulmonary function to gas stove emissions. The part analyses the power of these studies and of the accompanying confounding factors enables to see the strengths and weaknesses of our present data. It suggests that boys are more often affected than girls; furthermore, in 26% of the cases a virus can be isolated. The part also suggests that spike exposures of NOx of only about twice that of home levels have adverse effects on host defenses in animals. It also presents the number of pilot lights in the home plays a part in determining annual average values; peak values in kitchens, however, are clearly more impressive.
