THE TOXICOLOGY OF ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO-SMOKE

It has by now become obvious that environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) ma y pose a health risk to nonsmokers. Epidemiological data suggest that exposure to ETS may increase the risk of developing lung cancer, cardi ovascular disease, intrauterine growth retardation, predisposition to chronic lung disease, and sudden infant death syndrome. The human popu lations most at risk from ETS exposure appear to be neonates, young ch ildren, and possibly the fetus while in utero. Experimental studies wi th cigarette sidestream smoke (SS) have successfully duplicated severa l of these disease conditions in laboratory animals, particularly the effects of SS on fetal growth, lung maturation, and altered airway rea ctivity. The availability of animal models may open the way to fruitfu l experimental studies on mechanisms that help us to better understand disease.