Concentrations effective against common pathogens

Atmospheric particle concentrations have been linked with hospital admissions for pneumonia among the elderly (41). Pneumonia is a common complication of COPD, and it is often the precipitating terminal event. An increase in the incidence of pneumonia would thus be consistent with adverse effects on patients with COPD or other chronic respiratory diseases. All of the host defense factors listed in the foregoing for COPD could be important in particle effects on the risk of developing pneumonia interference with host defense mechanisms would be expected to increase this common cause of respiratory morbidity and mortality. Data are lacking that would allow assessment of particle effects on defense against specific pathogens important in humans, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae. 

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