title: Nasal allergy and atmospheric pollution.
abstract: Among the effects that pollution of the air causes on human health, irritation of the exposed mucosa is the earliest and the most obvious one. Pollutants damage the anatomical and functional integrity of the primary airways, in particular they cause alteration of the mucociliary system. The mucosa undergoing continuous aggression by an aerosol loaded with pollutants assumes the characteristics of a tissue with chronic inflammatory processes with dysepithelialised areas that could be an easy entrance for airborne allergens. The loss of integrity of epithelial lining, the interference with the repulsion of extraneous particles trapped in the mucus, the infiltration of the inflammatory cells and lymphocytes called into action by the phlogistic reaction multiply the occasion of meeting between environmental allergens and the immunological system of the host and basically of setting in motion the process of sensitisation. So there is a strict relationship between nasal allergy and pollution, that should not be ignored: allergy is the cause of considerable disturbances interfering with study, work and social activity and can lead to local and distal complications.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, University of Siena, Medical School, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Passali
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lauriello
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mezzedimi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bellussi
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000503:physiopathology; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000503:physiopathology; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants