Air pollution has bro into sharper focus the pressing need for more basic information on the structure, function, biochemistry, and pathology of the lung. This organ is unique being predominantly composed of membrane-poor cells having little structural building capability yet exposed to a rigorous and demanding environment. Modern life places greater stress upon the lung than in previous times compelling us to seek out the essential functions and processes of the lung. The physiology of gaseous exchange is not sufficient for the present.
To accelerate and consolidate our basic and applied knowledge of the lung in light of modern pollutants, a symposium was held at Richland, Wash. The results of that symposium appear in part in this and subsequent issues of The Archives.
Three areas of basic research are reported here: the lung surfactant, connective tissue and structure, and the alveolar macrophage. From this knowledge and discussion, attention was turned