According to a study recently published in Biological Psychology, exposure to environmental toxins during critical periods of prenatal and/or postnatal development may alter the normal course of lung development and maturation, potentially resulting in changes that affect both structure and function of the respiratory system. Moreover, these early effects may persist into adult life magnifying the potential public health impact. Aberrant or excessive pro-inflammatory immune responses, occurring both locally and systemically, that result in inflammatory damage to the airway are a central determinant of lung structure–function changes throughout life.  Please click here to access the abstract.