Particulate matter, science and European Union policy

Traffic-Related Air Pollution and Childhood Asthma

“…This could explain, at least in part, why it is so difficult to determine a precise threshold concentration that is harmful or safe for each individual (Cetta et al 2007). But this is just one side of the question.…”

Adverse Health Effects from Combustion-Derived Nanoparticles: The Relative Role of Intrinsic Particle Toxicity and Host Response

“…The results of these studies will also have relevant implications for policy makers (Cetta et al 2007). In fact, until now, contrast measures have mainly been directed to reduce PM concentration.…”

“…We have stressed that mechanistic linkages between PM and health effects should be investigated in more detail (Cetta et al 2007, 2008). Here, we would like to comment on the role of the individual response in the occurrence of the clinically evident outcome, that is, how individual charac teris tics of the host, in the presence of the same (or similar) noxious agents, are responsible for or determine the type and the severity of the response.…”

Cancer Risk and GSTM1 and GSTT1 Polymorphisms

“…Our team has long been involved in the detection of cause and effect relationships between presumed causative factors and cancer, in particular, concerning the relative role of inherited predisposition and environmental factors, the relative impact of intrinsic toxicity or carcinogenicity, and the role of host susceptibility and response (Cetta et al 2007, 2009a). …”

“…We suggest that researchers examine data carefully before they state that one event is influenced or not influenced by a causative or facilitating agent, namely when interactions between cause and effect are very complex and the causative relationship is not clear-cut (Cetta et al 2007, 2009b). This is even more important when attempting to establish the relative impact of inherited or environmental factors in the occurrence of various types of cancers, each of which has its own peculiarity and wide variations, even within the range of tumors affecting the same organ or tissue (Cetta et al 2007, 2009a).…”