Abstract
Due to its anatomic location and its function in gas exchange between the atmospheric air and the blood, the alveolar and airway epithelial cells are directly exposed to some 9000 liters of air daily. In addition, the surface area of the lung is approximately that of a football field, which makes it a major and obvious target organ for pollutant-related injury. The type I alveolar epithelial cells of the lung cover about 95% of the alveolar surface (Crapo et al., 1980), which makes it the most likely cell to be affected by oxidants. This cell is also the least resistant to the harmful effect of oxidants (Crapo et al., 1980). This implies that the external protection systems of the lung must play a vital role in protecting the lung against oxidant damage.
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