Bartra J, Mullol J, del Cuvillo A, Dávila I, Ferrer M, Jáuregui I, Montoro J, Sastre J, Valero A
Allergy Unit, Service of Pneumology and Respiratory Allergy, Hospital Clinic (ICT), Barcelona, Spain.
J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2007;17 Suppl 2:3-8.
It is well known that the prevalence of allergic diseases has increased in recent decades in the industrialized world. Exposure to environmental pollutants may partially account for this increased prevalence. In effect, air pollution is a growing public health problem. In Europe, the main source of air pollution due to particles in suspension is represented by motor vehicles--particularly those that use diesel fuel. Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) are composed of a carbon core upon which high-molecular weight organic chemical components and heavy metals deposit. Over 80% of all DEPs are in the ultrafine particle range (< 0.1 pm in diameter). Air pollutants not only have a direct or indirect effect upon the individual, but also exert important actions upon aeroallergens. Pollen in heavily polluted zones can express a larger amount of proteins described as being allergenic. Through physical contact with the pollen particles, DEPs can disrupt the former, leading to the release of paucimicronic particles and transporting them by air--thus facilitating their penetration of the human airways. Climate change in part gives rise to variations in the temperature pattern characterizing the different seasons of the year. Thus, plants may vary their pollination calendar, advancing and prolonging their pollination period. In addition, in the presence of high CO2 concentrations and temperatures, plants increase their pollen output. Climate change may also lead to the extinction of species, and to the consolidation of non-native species--with the subsequent risk of allergic sensitization among the exposed human population. In conclusion, there is sufficient scientific evidence on the effect of air pollution upon allergens, increasing exposure to the latter, their concentration and/or biological allergenic activity.
众所周知，近几十年来，工业化国家过敏性疾病的患病率有所上升。接触环境污染物可能是患病率上升的部分原因。事实上，空气污染是一个日益严重的公共卫生问题。在欧洲，悬浮颗粒物造成空气污染的主要来源是机动车——尤其是使用柴油燃料的车辆。柴油尾气颗粒（DEP）由一个碳核组成，高分子量有机化学成分和重金属沉积在该碳核上。所有DEP中超过80%属于超细颗粒范围（直径<0.1微米）。空气污染物不仅对个体有直接或间接影响，而且对气传变应原也有重要作用。在污染严重地区的花粉可以表达出更多被描述为具有致敏性的蛋白质。通过与花粉颗粒的物理接触，DEP可以破坏前者，导致微颗粒的释放并通过空气传播它们——从而促进它们进入人体气道。气候变化在一定程度上导致了一年中不同季节特征温度模式的变化。因此，植物可能会改变其授粉时间表，提前并延长其授粉期。此外，在高二氧化碳浓度和温度条件下，植物会增加花粉产量。气候变化还可能导致物种灭绝，并使非本地物种得以巩固——随之而来的是接触人群中发生过敏致敏的风险。总之，有充分的科学证据表明空气污染对变应原产生影响，增加了对变应原的接触、其浓度和/或生物致敏活性。
