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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
05:18
Measuring Carbon Content in Airway Macrophages Exposed to Carbon-Containing Particulate Matters
Published on: July 12, 2024
[Air pollution and asthma in children]
J Just1, L Nisakinovic, Y Laoudi
1Service de pneumologie et allergologie pédiatriques, hôpital d'enfants Armand-Trousseau, APHP, 26, avenue du Docteur-Arnold-Netter, 75571 Paris cedex 12 et université Pierre et Marie-Curie Paris-VI, France.
Summary
Global asthma rates are rising, especially in children. This review highlights how evolving air pollution, particularly traffic-related ultrafine particles, contributes to asthma development and exacerbation.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Epidemiology
- Toxicology
Context:
- Global increase in asthma and allergic diseases, particularly in children and adolescents.
- Multiple factors implicated, including allergens, infections, lifestyle, and environmental irritants.
- Rising asthma prevalence contrasts with decreasing levels of traditional air pollutants like SO2 and CO.
Purpose:
- To review the role of air pollutants, especially traffic-related ones, in asthma development and exacerbation.
- To examine the evolving nature of air pollution and its impact on respiratory health.
- To synthesize evidence on ultrafine particles and diesel exhaust in relation to allergic inflammation and airway hyper-responsiveness.
Summary:
- Air pollution has shifted from traditional pollutants to increased concentrations of ultrafine particles.
- Exposure to urban air particles, particularly diesel exhaust, causes oxidative stress and inflammation.
- Epidemiological studies link traffic density near residences to increased respiratory and asthma symptoms in children.
Impact:
- Chronic exposure to traffic-related pollutants during infancy may trigger asthma in genetically susceptible individuals.
- Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for public health strategies to mitigate the asthma epidemic.
- This review underscores the need to address evolving air quality challenges to protect respiratory health.
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