Environmental Air Pollution, Emphysema and Ionized Air

Abstract

The present evidence would indicate that both community air pollution and personal air pollution are important factors in some people developing pulmonary emphysema. We feel that cigarette smoking is the more significant factor at the present time in the development of emphysema as compared to community air pollution. However, this does not mean that community air pollution is not important in the development of emphysema. Previous studies by objective tests have demonstrated that Los Angeles smog aggravates the severity of pulmonary emphysema when present in a marked degree. Longer follow-up studies are needed in more groups to assess better the significance of breathing polluted air for many years. The normal large breathing reserve in man and the many variable factors present in the environment render difficult the designing of controlled experiments to demonstrate quickly the significant changes in pulmonary function from community air pollution. It is our feeling at the present time that there is no good evidence to recommend the use of air ions, either negative or positive, in the treatment of chronic pulmonary diseases in man. Although high concentrations of air ions were provided at the level of the nose and mouth, we doubt that there would be many un-neutralized ions that reached the bronchiolar level of the subject.