The Inhalation Facility is designed to provide services for controlled exposure of humans and rodent models to environmental agents within a laboratory setting. Essential goals of the facility are to provide investigators with uniformity in common exposure and assessment techniques, cost effectiveness in personnel time, access to specialized equipment, and perhaps higher quality data collection. Specific aims of the Facility are to provide guidance, equipment, and training for:

• Controlled human and rodent exposures to respirable irritants and bio-aerosols;
  
• Assist in the development of laboratory models comparable to human lung disease;
  
• Characterize physiologic and biologic response(s) of the respiratory system of rodents and humans before and after inhalation challenges
  
• Routine processing of lung samples obtained after exposure;
  
• Collaborative interactions and research among facility users;
  
• Development of new exposure systems; and
  
• Use of laboratory methodology in field investigations.