Abstract
The existence of lung edema receptor sites for ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and phosgene is proposed as a more satisfactory lung edema formation mechanism than a simple overall “burning” or tissue damage mechanism. The facts that support this proposal are: (1) There are wide phylogenetic variations in response to “irritant” gases. Lizards can withstand 30J4 hours of ozone at 20 ppm. Different strains of the same species may have different LCso's for ozone. (2) There is ontogenetic variation in response to ozone and nitrogen dioxide. While neonates are resistant to the effects of NO2, they are equally as sensitive to H'CN. Aromatic thiocarbamates administered parenterally cause lung edema in the adult rodent but not in the neonate. (3) Tolerance to ozone is induced by cervical cord section. (4) Brain injuries can produce lung edema in the presence of low left ventricular pressures. (5) Microspheres of starch injected into a small segment of one lung causes both lungs to become edematous.