Environmental air pollution: respiratory effects

• Published in: Jornal brasileiro de pneumologia Vol. 47; no. 1; p. e20200267
• Main Authors: de Paula Santos1, Ubiratan, Abdo Arbex2,3, Marcos, Ferreira Braga3,4, Alfésio Luis, Futoshi Mizutani5, Rafael, Delfini Cançado6, José Eduardo, Terra-Filho7, Mário, Chatkin8,9, José Miguel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia 01.01.2021
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - adverse effects; Air pollution; Air Pollution - adverse effects; Asthma; Brazil; Humans; Lung neoplasms; Particulate matter; Pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive; RESPIRATORY SYSTEM; Respiratory tract diseases; Respiratory tract infections; Review; Brazil; Doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica; Doenças respiratórias; Pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive; Asthma; Respiratory tract infections; Neoplasias pulmonares; Particulate matter; Infecções respiratórias; Material particulado; Air pollution; Respiratory tract diseases; Asma; Poluição do ar; Lung neoplasms
• ISSN: 1806-3756; 1806-3713; 1806-3756
• DOI: 10.36416/1806-3756/e20200267

Environmental air pollution is a major risk factor for morbidity and mortality worldwide. Environmental air pollution has a direct impact on human health, being responsible for an increase in the incidence of and number of deaths due to cardiopulmonary, neoplastic, and metabolic diseases; it also contributes to global warming and the consequent climate change associated with extreme events and environmental imbalances. In this review, we present articles that show the impact that exposure to different sources and types of air pollutants has on the respiratory system; we present the acute effects-such as increases in symptoms and in the number of emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and deaths-and the chronic effects-such as increases in the incidence of asthma, COPD, and lung cancer, as well as a rapid decline in lung function. The effects of air pollution in more susceptible populations and the effects associated with physical exercise in polluted environments are also presented and discussed. Finally, we present the major studies on the subject conducted in Brazil. Health care and disease prevention services should be aware of this important risk factor in order to counsel more susceptible individuals about protective measures that can facilitate their treatment, as well as promoting the adoption of environmental measures that contribute to the reduction of such emissions.