Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences

Published by : PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL PUBLICATIONS

ISSN 1681-715X

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CONTINUING MEDICAL COMMUNICATION

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Volume 26

January - March  2010

Number  1


 

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Air pollution and respiratory health:
An evolving epidemic

Muslim Mohammed Al Saadi1

ABSTRACT

The spectrum of adverse effects of air pollution is wide and includes the consequences of acute and chronic exposure, which may lead to health care problems. Physicians are more likely to be concerned with the less common and more acute clinical consequences of acute pollution exposure, such as emergency hospital admission due to respiratory problems. Air pollution is the preamble of chemical, biological and particulate materials that can cause harm to human health and damage the natural environment. Air pollution can originate outdoors as well as indoors and become a major health concern. There have been significant advances in the knowledge regarding the effects of air pollutants on human health in the past few years. The general public especially patients with upper and lower respiratory symptoms are aware of the adverse respiratory effects due to air pollution. Long-term exposure to air pollutants increases the risk of respiratory illnesses such as allergies, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, impaired lung function and lung cancer. The aim of this review is to highlight the adverse effects of air pollution due to dust storms on human health and provide the clinicians with appropriate context for monitoring and assessing the risk of air pollution.

Key words: Air pollution, Sandstorm, Dust storm, Respiratory problems.

Pak J Med Sci    January - March 2010    Vol. 26 No. 1    239-243

How to cite this article:

Al-Saadi MM. Air pollution and respiratory health: An evolving epidemic. Pak J Med Sci 2010;26(1):239-243


Dr. Muslim Mohammed Al Saadi,
Associate Professor Department of Pediatrics (39)
Vice Dean, College of Medicine
King Khalid University Hospital King Saud University,
P.O. Box 2925, Riyadh 11461,
Saudi Arabia.

Correspondence:

Dr. Muslim Mohammed Al Saadi,
Email: alsaadi@ksu.edu.sa

* Received for Publication: May 5th 2009
* Revision Received: September 3, 2009
* Final Revision Accepted: December 15th 2009



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