Environmental Substances Associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease—A Scoping Review

Hanna Maria Elonheimo, Tiina Mattila, Helle Raun Andersen, Beatrice Bocca, Flavia Ruggieri, Elsi Haverinen and Hanna Tolonen
Additional contact information
Hanna Maria Elonheimo: Department of Public Health and Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), 00271 Helsinki, Finland
Tiina Mattila: Department of Public Health and Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), 00271 Helsinki, Finland
Helle Raun Andersen: Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark
Beatrice Bocca: Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
Flavia Ruggieri: Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
Elsi Haverinen: Department of Public Health and Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), 00271 Helsinki, Finland
Hanna Tolonen: Department of Public Health and Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), 00271 Helsinki, Finland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-13

Abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a slowly developing non-communicable disease (NCD), causing non-reversible obstruction and leading to marked morbidity and mortality. Besides traditional risk factors such as smoking, some environmental substances can augment the risk of COPD. The European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) is a program evaluating citizens’ exposure to various environmental substances and their possible health impacts. Within the HBM4EU, eighteen priority substances or substance groups were chosen. In this scoping review, seven of these substances or substance groups are reported to have an association or a possible association with COPD. Main exposure routes, vulnerable and high-exposure risk groups, and matrices where these substances are measured are described. Pesticides in general and especially organophosphate and carbamate insecticides, and some herbicides, lead (Pb), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) showed an association, and cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr and CrVI), arsenic (As), and diisocyanates, a possible association with COPD and/or decreased lung function. Due to long latency in COPD’s disease process, the role of chemical exposure as a risk factor for COPD is probably underestimated. More research is needed to support evidence-based conclusions. Generally, chemical exposure is a growing issue of concern, and prompt action is needed to safeguard public health.

Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); chemical exposure; pesticides; cadmium (Cd); chromium (Cr); arsenic (As); lead (Pb); diisocyanates; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); HBM4EU; human biomonitoring (HBM) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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