Environmental risk factors for asthma and COPD.
| Environmental risk factor | Impact on asthma | Impact on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) | Main agents and sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (outdoor) | It increases the incidence (especially in children) and causes exacerbations. Promotes allergic sensitization. | It accelerates the decline in lung function and increases the risk of developing and exacerbating the disease. | Particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3) deriving from vehicular traffic and industrial emissions. |
| Domestic pollution (indoor) | Exposure to allergens causes onset and exacerbation. Secondhand smoke is a key risk factor. | Biomass burning is one of the main global causes. Passive smoking increases the risk. | Allergens (mites, moulds, animals), second-hand smoke, smoke from burning wood/charcoal for cooking or heating. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs). |
| Occupational exposures | Cause of occupational asthma (sensitizing or irritative), the most common occupational respiratory disease. | About 15–20% of cases are attributable to work. Cause of chronic inflammation and lung damage. | Asthma: flours, isocyanates, latex, wood dust. COPD: mineral dusts (coal, silica), organic dusts (cotton, cereals), chemical fumes. |
Supplementary materials for this article are available at: https://www.explorationpub.com/uploads/Article/file/1009135_sup_1.pdf.
This document represents a virtuous example of national scientific collaboration, born from the joint commitment of experts of nine scientific societies, which have shared skills, data and strategic vision to address one of the most urgent challenges of contemporary public health.
We thank the Presidents of the nine Scientific Societies that have joined the initiative with promptness and conviction, recognizing its urgency and strategic value: Prof. Vincenzo Patella, President of the Italian Society of Allergology, Asthma and Clinical Immunology (SIAAIC); Prof. Lorenzo Richiardi, President of the Italian Association of Epidemiology (AIE); Prof. Francesco Murzilli, President of the Association of Italian Territorial and Hospital Allergists and Immunologists (AAIITO); Prof. Raffaele Scala, President of the Italian Association of Hospital Pulmonologists (AIPO); Prof. Gian Luigi Marseglia, President of the Italian Society of Paediatric Allergology and Immunology (SIAIP); Prof. Augusto Arsieni, President of the Italian Society of Aerobiology, Medicine and Environment (SIAMA); Prof. Maurizio Coggiola, President of the Italian Society of Occupational Medicine (SIML); Prof. Stefania La Grutta, President of the Italian Society for Childhood Respiratory Diseases (SIMRI); Prof. Paola Rogliani, President of the Italian Society of Pneumology (SIP).
The experts of the inter-society Task Force are: Manuela De Sario, Silvia Maritano (AIE); Paolo Borrelli, Gabriele Cortellini (AAIITO); Carlo Barbetta, Francesco Menzella (AIPO); Manlio Milanese, Giovanni Viegi (SIAAIC); Cristiana Indolfi, Giovanni Traina (SIAIP); Augusto Arsieni, Emma Tedeschini (SIAMA); Massimo Corradi, Nicola Murgia (SIML); Giuliana Ferrante, Raffaella Nenna (SIMRI); Laura Carrozzi, Sara Maio (SIP).
GV: Conceptualization, Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing, Supervision. SM: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. AA: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. CB: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. PB: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. LC: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. MC: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. GC: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. MDS: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. GF: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. CI: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. SM: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. FM: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. MM: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. NM: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. RN: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. ET: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. GT: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. VP: Supervision. All authors read and approved the submitted version.
Vincenzo Patella, who is the Editorial Board Member and Guest Editor of Exploration of Asthma & Allergy; Manlio Milanese, who is the Guest Editor of Exploration of Asthma & Allergy. The remaining authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
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