[Microclimate and the respiratory system].
The thermal exchanges between lung and working or living environment constitute a very small amount of the total thermal exchange of the human body. They mainly depend on temperature and humidity gradients between inspired and expired air and on ventilatory levels as well. In spite of the smallness of such exchanges regarding the thermal steady state of the body, the variations of the climate physical parameters can greatly affect the lung either from the subjective or the objective point of view. Air humidity, temperature and ventilation are here considered as causes of respiratory discomfort and as risk factors of respiratory disease. It has been pointed out that the same parameter levels can exert a favourable or unfavourable influence on respiratory tract. For instance low humidity values can support the respiratory infections but usually prevent asthma crisis caused by indoor mite sensitization. Sometimes among the causes of respiratory risk can be involved the artificial systems of ventilation and humidification (air conditioning, humidifiers). It is not possible to set proper limit values for the physical parameters but only ranges where to determine the best combination for each single situation. The width of such ranges as well as the dysfunctioning of the artificial conditioning systems can in particular cases support some conditions of respiratory risk.
Catenacci
G
G
Dipartimento di Medicina Preventiva Occupazionale, dell'Università di Pavia.
D000389:Air Conditioning / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006361:Heating / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology*
Microclima e apparato respiratorio.