title: Allergy and asthma: Effects of the exposure to particulate matter and biological allergens.
abstract: The prevalence of asthma and allergies including atopy has increased during the past decades, particularly in westernized countries. The rapid rise in the prevalence of such diseases cannot be explained by genetic factors alone. Rapid urbanization and industrialization throughout the world have increased air pollution and population exposures, so that most epidemiologic studies are focusing on possible links between air pollution and respiratory diseases. Furthermore, a growing body of evidence shows that chemical air pollution may interact with airborne allergens enhancing the risk of atopic sensitization and exacerbation of symptoms in sensitized subjects. These phenomena are supported by current in vitro and animal studies showing that the combined exposure to air pollutants and allergens may have a synergistic or additive effect on asthma and allergies, although there is an insufficient evidence about this link at the population level. Further research is needed in order to elucidate the mechanisms by which pollutants and biological allergens induce damage in exposed subjects. The abatement of the main risk factors for asthma and allergic diseases may achieve huge health benefits. Thus, it is important to raise awareness of respiratory allergies as serious chronic diseases which place a heavy burden on patients and on society as a whole.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: baldas@ifc.cnr.it.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baldacci
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maio
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cerrai
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sarno
authors.affiliation: Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR-S 1136, Institute Pierre Louis of Epidémiology and Public Health, Epidemiology of Allergic and Respiratory Diseases Department, Paris, France; INSERM, UMR-S 1136, IPLESP, EPAR Department, Paris, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baïz
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simoni
authors.affiliation: Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR-S 1136, Institute Pierre Louis of Epidémiology and Public Health, Epidemiology of Allergic and Respiratory Diseases Department, Paris, France; INSERM, UMR-S 1136, IPLESP, EPAR Department, Paris, France.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Annesi-Maesano
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Viegi
mesh_terms: D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects*; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: Allergic diseases; Asthma; Biological allergens; Particulate matter