Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
05:18
Measuring Carbon Content in Airway Macrophages Exposed to Carbon-Containing Particulate Matters
Published on: July 12, 2024
Environmental pollution and lung effects in children.
Daniel A Searing1, Nathan Rabinovitch
1Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, USA.
Current Opinion in Pediatrics
|April 7, 2011
Summary
Recent studies link outdoor air pollution to new asthma cases and worsening symptoms. Children with specific genetic factors are more vulnerable, suggesting targeted interventions may help reduce asthma incidence and severity.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Growing evidence links air pollution exposure to increased asthma incidence and severity.
- Recent research highlights potential mechanisms and susceptible populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on the relationship between air pollution and asthma.
- To identify mechanisms and factors influencing susceptibility.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies published within the last two years.
- Analysis of associations between outdoor air pollution and asthma outcomes.
- Examination of mediating mechanisms and susceptibility factors.
Main Results:
- Outdoor air pollution is associated with asthma exacerbations, emergency visits, hospitalizations, and new-onset asthma.
- Mechanisms include oxidative stress, allergic sensitization, increased viral infection susceptibility, and in utero epigenetic changes.
- Susceptibility is influenced by age, season, and genetic polymorphisms in antioxidant enzymes.
Conclusions:
- Ambient pollution is linked to both asthma incidence and severity.
- Children with genetic polymorphisms in oxidant stress pathways may be more susceptible.
- Interventions like reduced exposure on high pollution days, antioxidant supplementation, and urban planning changes are suggested.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease I: Introduction
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a common, preventable, and treatable respiratory disorder characterized by persistent symptoms and progressive airflow limitation. This limitation results from a combination of small-airway disease (obstructive bronchiolitis) and parenchymal destruction (emphysema), both driven by chronic inflammation from exposure to harmful particles or gases.The disease includes two main pathological entities: emphysema, marked by destruction of alveolar walls and...
01:36Types of Toxins
Humans continually engage with an environment rich in potentially harmful chemicals. These are introduced to our bodies through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. These chemicals exist in various forms, such as air and environmental pollutants, agricultural chemicals, organic solvents, and heavy metals.
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
01:24Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features
Chronic bronchitis is a key phenotype of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), characterized by airway-centered inflammation and mucus overproduction. It develops from long-term exposure to harmful particles or gases, most commonly cigarette smoke, which triggers a persistent inflammatory response.Cellular and Structural ChangesInflammation initially affects the large bronchi and later the smaller airways, with infiltration by immune cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, and...
01:20Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a long-lasting respiratory condition requiring continuous attention and care. It is a progressive lung disease that leads to breathing challenges due to airflow obstruction. It manifests as persistent respiratory symptoms and restricted airflow resulting from abnormalities in the airways and alveoli, usually due to long-term exposure to harmful particles or gases. COPD mainly consists of two primary conditions: emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
01:20Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) pathophysiology is intricate and multifaceted, involving a complex interplay of physiological processes. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for effectively managing and treating COPD. Here is an in-depth look at the critical elements in the pathophysiology of COPD:
Chronic Inflammation
Chronic Inflammation
01:17Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation
In terms of human respiration, the act of expelling air, known as exhalation (or expiration), operates on the principle of pressure gradients. During expiration, the pressure within the lungs exceeds that of the surrounding atmosphere. Under normal conditions, quiet breathing involves passive exhalation and is free of muscular contractions. This is because the exhalation process is driven by the natural elastic recoil of the lungs and chest wall, both of which have an inherent tendency to...