Abstract
The harm of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) to public health is the focus of attention around the world. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2015 (GBD 2015 Risk Factors Collaborators, 2016) ranked PM2.5 as the fifth leading risk factor for death, which caused 4.2 million deaths and 103.1 million disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) loss, representing 7.6% of total global deaths and 4.2% of global DALYs. Epidemiological studies have confirmed that exposure to PM2.5 increases the incidence and mortality of respiratory infections. The host defense dysfunction caused by PM2.5 exposure may be the key to the susceptibility of respiratory system infection. Thus, this review aims to assess the impact of PM2.5 on the host defense of respiratory system. Firstly, we elaborated the epidemiological evidence that exposure to PM2.5 increases the risk of respiratory infections. Secondly, we summarized the experimental evidence that PM2.5 exposure increases the susceptibility of different pathogens (including bacteria and viruses) in respiratory system. Furthermore, here we discussed the underlying host defense mechanisms by which PM2.5 exposure increases the risk of respiratory infections as well as future perspectives.
Highlights
Exposure to air pollution, including gaseous pollution and particulate matter (PM) pollution, is a leading contributor to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD 2015 Risk Factors Collaborators, 2016)
This review focuses on the respiratory system, the primary target organ for PM2.5 exposure
We summarized the in vivo experimental studies of PM2.5 on respiratory host defense (Table 1)
Summary
Exposure to air pollution, including gaseous pollution and particulate matter (PM) pollution, is a leading contributor to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD 2015 Risk Factors Collaborators, 2016). PM2.5 and Respiratory Host Defense for most of the PM pollution (Cho et al, 2018). The components of PM are extremely complex, including inorganic components (such as heavy and transition metals, elemental carbon, and sulfuric/nitric/ammonia salts), organic components (such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and biological components (such as fungi, spores, and viruses) (Zhang et al, 2015; Cho et al, 2018). There are certain differences in the source and composition of different types of particulate matter, and the harm to public health varies as well (Figure 1). This review focuses on the respiratory system, the primary target organ for PM2.5 exposure
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