RT Book, Section A1 Coultas, David B. A1 Samet, Jonathan M. A2 Wallace, Robert B. SR Print(0) ID 1141961249 T1 Respiratory Disease Prevention T2 Maxcy-Rosenau-Last Public Health and Preventive Medicine, 15e YR 2017 FD 2017 PB McGraw-Hill Medical PP New York, NY SN 9780071441988 LK accessbiomedicalscience.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1141961249 RD 2024/03/29 AB Diseases of the respiratory system are an important public health problem in all countries. The respiratory system, which includes the lungs and the upper airway that joins the trachea to the larynx, is exposed to a wide range of potentially injurious agents (Table 65-1). On average, an adult inhales about 5 L of air per minute; with exercise, the amount may increase 20-fold or more. With 10,000–20,000 L of air inhaled daily, agents present even in low concentrations may be toxic. The respiratory system is equipped with a remarkably effective system of defense mechanisms against inhaled particles and gases. Disease may result, however, if an acute exposure overwhelms the defenses (e.g., toxic gas inhalation), if an agent is particularly toxic even at low concentrations (e.g., toluene diisocyanate), if exposure is sustained (e.g., cigarette smoking), or if the exposed person is particularly susceptible (e.g., asthmatics).