[Exposure to environmental contaminants and respiratory disease. Spotlight on the year 2009].
The continued inhalation of contaminants present in the air that we breathe is a common cause of respiratory disease. Classically, this exposure-disease relationship has been proved in the workplace and as a cause of specific diseases such as pneumoconiosis and occupational asthma. However, there is increasing evidence indicating an association between occupational exposure and other more prevalent respiratory diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and lung cancer. The effect of contamination is also observed outside the workplace. The air in cities can contribute to increasing the morbidity and mortality due to chronic respiratory diseases. Some articles published during the year 2009 that have a bearing on aspects associated with respiratory diseases of occupational or environmental origin are reviewed below.
Barcala
Javier González
JG
Servicio de Neumoloxía, Complexo Hospitalario Clinico Universitario de Pontevedra, España.
Portal
José Antonio Rodríguez
JA
Carmona
María Jesús Cruz
MJ
González
Cristina Martínez
CM
D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy