Aerozagađenje i hronična opstruktivna bolest pluća

Abstract

The health effects of air pollution have been subject to intense study in recent years. These effects have been found in short-term studies, which relate day-to-day variations in air pollution and health, and long-term studies. The present paper is a review of the epidemiological research conducted during the last 10 years. In this review, we discuss the evidence of relation between short term variations in ambient concentrations of air pollution and short-term health effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Epidemiological studies have shown that COPD patients are susceptible to the acute effects of air pollution, and that COPD explained an important part of the total number of deaths attributed to air pollution. Epidemiological research has identified more exacerbations during periods of increased pollution. Increases in black smoke particulate mater, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide are associated with increases in respiratory symptoms, admissions for exacerbations, and COPD associated mortality. There is evidence that persons with pre-existing respiratory disease are more susceptible to the health effects of air pollution. Even a weak effect of air pollution on health will constitute an important problem, because of ubiquity of exposure for large populations.