TABLE 4.
Examples of biomarkers of potentially adverse respiratory health effects
| Increased levels of markers of airway inflammation (e.g. PMNs or inflammatory cytokines in BAL or sputum) |
| Increased levels of markers of airway injury or inflammation in exhaled breath (e.g. increased acidity of exhaled breath condensate or increased FeNO in asthmatics) |
| Increased levels of blood markers of lung injury (e.g. 8-isoprostanes, club cell secretory protein) |
| Imaging evidence for lung injury or reduced lung volume |
| Reduced pulmonary gas exchange (e.g. DLCO, DLNO, PaO2, pulse oximetry) |
| Increased airways responsiveness to nonspecific challenge |
| Increased airways hyperresponsiveness in asthmatic patients |
PMN: polymorphonuclear leukocyte; BAL: bronchoalveolar lavage; FeNO: exhaled nitric oxide fraction; DLCO: diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide; DLNO: diffusing capacity of the lung for nitric oxide; PaO2: arterial oxygen tension.