FIRS The Global Impact of Respiratory Disease – Second Edition | Page 28

pollution, which affects many respiratory
conditions. Ozone production increases
with higher temperatures because higher
temperature speeds the reactions of volatile
organic compounds and nitrogen oxides to
produce ozone. Climate change affects the
incidence and severity of respiratory infections
by their affecting vectors and habitats and
changing the transmission patterns of viruses
[45]. Weather events may alter human host
response and susceptibilities to infectious and
non-infectious diseases.
The deliberate use of biological agents
or chemicals to infl ict casualties has been
outlawed globally since 1925. In 1972, the
United Nations’ Biological and Toxin Weapons
Convention “prohibited the development,
production, accumulation, acquisition, and
retention of biological agents or toxins.”
Unforgivably, they have been used in
confl icts since then. The lungs are particularly
vulnerable to biological or chemical terrorism
because the causative agents are most often
disseminated through the air. Defending
against such attacks requires research to
understand how best to protect the lungs.
Forum of International Respiratory Societies
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