Effects of air pollutants on man, animals, plants and buildings: Mechanisms and dose-response effects

Air pollution has become a major public concern since the beginning of industrialization, including motor car exhaust since the past three decades. Besides direct effects on living organisms, effects on buildings as well as on climate have to be considered. For living organisms, SO ₉, NO ₂, ozone, certain hydrocarbons and particles may have toxic effects whileror buildings acids and their anhydrides (SO ₂, NO ₂) exhibit destructive power. Epidemiological studies together with clinical trials and experiments in exposition chambers, including biochemical model reactions, contribute to our knowledge about potential dangers and increase the understanding of corresponding mechanisms and dose-response effects. Comparism of the almost daily appearing threatening reports in the press with the digest of more than 800 relevant original scientific publications allows the statement that impacts of ozone and NO _x on health and performance of plants and animals are widely overestimated and appear to be used as political instruments. In contrast, combinations of SO ₂ with soot particles may represent an underestimated toxic potential. New experimental results clearly demonstrate the generally detoxifying power of the 3-way catalytic converter of Otto motor engines.