title: Impacts of Particulate Air Pollution on Asthma: Current Understanding and Future Perspectives.
abstract: The impacts of air pollution on human health and disease have been attracting attention, especially in industrialized countries and areas with heavy traffic burdens. Fine particulate matters (PMs) are considered as an important air pollutant, since it was reported that there was a significant relationship between PM2.5 levels and mortality by cohort studies in 1990s. Epidemiological and toxicological studies have strongly suggested a causative relationship between fine particulate air pollution and increased incidence as well as exacerbations of asthma, and other respiratory disorders. Recent advances in research have elucidated that PMs primarily and secondarily induce oxidative stresses which result both in pro- and antiinflammatory activities. It has been demonstrated that gene polymorphisms of antioxidant enzymes might change responses to particulate air pollution exposures. To prevent health hazardous effects of particles, it is crucial to screen susceptible subpopulations and establish chemoprevention strategies in the world. Novel techniques and modalities are patented for future progress on better control of air pollution.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Shinkawa 6-20-2, Mitaka-shi, 181-8611, Tokyo, Japan. htakizawa-alg@umin.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takizawa
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D055808:Drug Discovery; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010330:Patents as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D052638:Particulate Matter