Environmental air pollution: respiratory effects

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 co...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Jornal brasileiro de pneumologia 2021-01, Vol.47 (1), p.e20200267
Main Authors: Santos, Ubiratan de Paula, Arbex, Marcos Abdo, Braga, Alfésio Luis Ferreira, Mizutani, Rafael Futoshi, Cançado, José Eduardo Delfini, Terra-Filho, Mário, Chatkin, José Miguel
Format: Article
Language:English
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
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Summary: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.
ISSN:1806-3756
1806-3713
1806-3756
DOI:10.36416/1806-3756/e20200267