ERR
HOME HELP FEEDBACK ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY REVIEW, 2005;14: 51-56. doi:10.1183/09059180.05.00009502
© 2005 the European Respiratory Society
This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Permissions
Right arrow Request Permissions
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Olivieri, D.
Right arrow Articles by Scoditti, E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Olivieri, D.
Right arrow Articles by Scoditti, E.

Impact of environmental factors on lung defences

D. Olivieri and E. Scoditti

Dept of Clinical Sciences, Section of Respiratory Disease, University of Parma, Italy.

CORRESPONDENCE: D. Olivieri, Clinica Pneumologica, Ospedale Rasori, Via Rasori, 10, 43100 Parma, Italy. Fax: 39 0521292615. E-mail: dario.olivieri{at}unipr.it

The lungs are one of the most important organs exposed to environmental agents. The lungs have the ability to protect themselves by both immunological and nonimmunological mechanisms. An individual's susceptibility to the impact of environmental agents will determine their adverse effects.

This article focuses on air pollution, in particular ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter (PM) and sulphur dioxide (SO2). O3 inhalation first modifies the ciliary cells. O3 is an extremely strong oxidant, since it increases the permeability of epithelial cells and decreases mucociliary clearance. NO2 is a less potent and less reactive oxidant pollutant and impairs the function of epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages. PM induces oxidative stress in macrophages and epithelial cells, and increases tumour necrosis factor-ß, interleukin (IL)-6, interferon-{gamma}, transforming growth factor-ß and nuclear factor-B. Diesel exhaust particulate, contained in PM, increases IL-8 production. High concentrations of SO2 increase the production of reactive oxygen species in the lungs.

In conclusion, air pollution certainly interferes with aspecific and specific lung defences, thus facilitating the development of pulmonary diseases, such as exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, allergies and asthma.

KEYWORDS: Air pollution, environmental factors, lung defences, mucociliary clearance, ozone, particulate matter






HOME HELP FEEDBACK ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2005 by the European Respiratory Society.