Effects of Air Pollutants on Airway Diseases

Yun-Gi Lee, Pureun-Haneul Lee, Seon-Muk Choi, Min-Hyeok An and An-Soo Jang
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Yun-Gi Lee: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, 170 Jomaru-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon 14584, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
Pureun-Haneul Lee: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, 170 Jomaru-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon 14584, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
Seon-Muk Choi: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, 170 Jomaru-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon 14584, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
Min-Hyeok An: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, 170 Jomaru-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon 14584, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
An-Soo Jang: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, 170 Jomaru-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon 14584, Gyeonggi-do, Korea

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 18, 1-17

Abstract: Air pollutants include toxic particles and gases emitted in large quantities from many different combustible materials. They also include particulate matter (PM) and ozone, and biological contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which can penetrate the human airway and reach the bloodstream, triggering airway inflammation, dysfunction, and fibrosis. Pollutants that accumulate in the lungs exacerbate symptoms of respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Asthma, a heterogeneous disease with complex pathological mechanisms, is characterized by particular symptoms such as shortness of breath, a tight chest, coughing, and wheezing. Patients with COPD often experience exacerbations and worsening of symptoms, which may result in hospitalization and disease progression. PM varies in terms of composition, and can include solid and liquid particles of various sizes. PM concentrations are higher in urban areas. Ozone is one of the most toxic photochemical air pollutants. In general, air pollution decreases quality of life and life expectancy. It exacerbates acute and chronic respiratory symptoms in patients with chronic airway diseases, and increases the morbidity and risk of hospitalization associated with respiratory diseases. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. Therefore, we reviewed the impact of air pollutants on airway diseases such as asthma and COPD, focusing on their underlying mechanisms.

Keywords: air pollutants; airway disease; asthma; COPD (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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