Front Matter -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Contents -- Executive Summary -- 1 Major Issues in Understanding Asthma -- 2 Methodological Considerations in Evaluating the Evidence -- 3 Patterns of Asthma Morbidity and Mortality -- 4 Pathophysiological Basis of Asthma -- 5 Indoor Biologic Exposures -- 6 Indoor ChemicalExposures -- 7 Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke -- 8 Indoor Dampness and Asthma -- 9 Asthma and Nonresidential Indoor Environments -- 10 Impact of Ventilation and Air Cleaning on Asthma
11 Summary of Research Recommendations and Overall ConclusionsAppendix A Theoretical Considerations Relevant to the Influence of Ventilation and Air Cleaning on Exposures to Indoor-Generated Pollutants -- Appendix B Workshop Summaries -- Appendix C Committee and Staff Biographies -- Index
Summary
Since about 1980, asthma prevalence and asthma-related hospitalizations and deaths have increased substantially, especially among children. Of particular concern is the high mortality rate among African Americans with asthma