Kim Haejin, Bernstein Jonathan A
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH 45267-0563, USA.
Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2009 Mar;9(2):128-33. doi: 10.1007/s11882-009-0019-0.
Over the past several decades, there has been increased awareness of the health effects of air pollution and much debate regarding the role of global warming. The prevalence of asthma and allergic disease has risen in industrialized countries, and most epidemiologic studies focus on possible causalities between air pollution and these conditions. This review examines salient articles and summarizes findings important to the interaction between allergies and air pollution, specifically volatile organic compounds, global warming, particulate pollutants, atopic risk, indoor air pollution, and prenatal exposure. Further work is necessary to determine whether patients predisposed to developing allergic disease may be more susceptible to the health effects of air pollutants due to the direct interaction between IgE-mediated disease and air pollutants. Until we have more definitive answers, patient education about the importance of good indoor air quality in the home and workplace is essential. Health care providers and the general community should also support public policy designed to improve outdoor air quality by developing programs that provide incentives for industry to comply with controlling pollution emissions.
在过去几十年里，人们对空气污染对健康的影响有了更多认识，并且围绕全球变暖的作用展开了诸多辩论。在工业化国家，哮喘和过敏性疾病的患病率有所上升，大多数流行病学研究聚焦于空气污染与这些病症之间可能存在的因果关系。本综述审视了相关重要文章，并总结了对于过敏与空气污染之间相互作用具有重要意义的研究结果，特别是挥发性有机化合物、全球变暖、颗粒物污染物、特应性风险、室内空气污染以及产前暴露。有必要开展进一步研究，以确定由于IgE介导的疾病与空气污染物之间的直接相互作用，易患过敏性疾病的患者是否可能更容易受到空气污染物对健康的影响。在我们获得更确切的答案之前，对患者进行关于家庭和工作场所良好室内空气质量重要性的教育至关重要。医疗保健提供者和普通大众也应通过制定相关计划来支持旨在改善室外空气质量的公共政策，这些计划可为企业遵守污染排放控制规定提供激励措施。
