Is chronic exposure to air pollutants a risk factor for the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?

The recent Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health emphasises the considerable health burden attributable to environmental pollution, including air, water, soil, heavy metal and chemical pollution, and occupational exposure [1]. All forms of pollution were responsible for an estimated 9 million deaths in 2015, and air pollution, including both household and ambient air pollution, was responsible for the largest part, with an estimate of 6.5 million deaths [1, 2]. In 2016, air pollution was among the first five risk factors in terms of attributable disability-adjusted life-years at the global level [3]. Noteworthy, these estimates are probably underestimates as they account for the well-established associations between air pollution and disease and do not include unknown or emerging, but still unquantified, health effects of air pollutants.
Source: European Respiratory Journal - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Interstitial and orphan lung disease Editorials Source Type: research