Respiratory effects of air pollution: time to stop this deadly trajectory

The Global Burden of Disease Study has estimated that over 500 million subjects, around 7% of the global population, are affected by chronic respiratory diseases, with substantial individual and societal costs concerning morbidity, disability and mortality.1 Identifying and mitigating potentially modifiable risk factors are crucial in preventing the associated public health burden. Extensive literature has provided compelling evidence that air pollution, especially fine particulate matter (PM)2.5 (diameter <2.5 µm), is a leading risk factor for the incidence and mortality of acute and chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).2 3 In addition, in 2013, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified outdoor air pollution as a known carcinogen for the lung.4 The recent large multicentre project ‘Effects of Low-Level Air Pollution: A Study in Europe’ has shown that adverse respiratory effects, including incidence of asthma in adults
Source: Thorax - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Thorax Editorial Source Type: research