Air Pollution

Ma. Minda Luz M. Manuguid, M.D.

 Air Pollution
 Daily, we inhale from 10,000-20000 liters of air, bearing myriad pollutants-
gases, bacteria, fibers, particles
e.g. ozone, nitrous dioxide, radon, cigarette smoke, coal dust, silica,
asbestos
 etiologic factors: population explosion; improper garbage disposal; burning
of certain chemicals; ↑ no. of automobiles (↑exhaust)
 some consequences: destruction of atmospheric Ozone; “greenhouse”
effect (global warming)- loss of vegetation, loss of rain forests; global
malnutrition

/
 adverse consequences of Air Pollution

 Destruction of atmospheric
Ozone by chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs), nitrogen dioxide (NO2),
& bromide/bromine radicals

 Global warming / the

“greenhouse” effect: ↑CO2,
CFCs, NO2, methane in the
atmosphere traps infrared
waves/heat on the earth’s surface
 Lung injury patterns due to Air
Pollution
Acute/Chronic Inflammation  direct cell injury
Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis  immunologic injury
 Emphysema  enhanced proteolysis
 Asthma  allergic/irritant effect
 Pneumoconiosis  fibrotic reactions caused
by cytokines released
from macrophages & other
recruited leukocytes
 mutagenic & promoting
 Neoplasia effects
 Air Pollution: Tobacco smoking
 the single most preventable cause of premature death in
developed countries
 adverse effects are much greater than those of all other
pollutants combined
 damages not only the principal smokers but also innocent
bystanders (passive smokers)
 quantitation:
no. of packs smoked per day x no. of years smoking
= no. of pack-years
e.g. ½ pack a day x 10 yrs = 5 pack-years
** The higher the number of pack-years, the greater the risks
of smoking.**
 adverse effects of Smoking
 Coronary heart disease leading to myocardial infarction
(MI)- no.1 cause of death related to cigarette smoking
 Cancer of the Lung
 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD):
emphysema, chronic bronchitis
 Systemic arteriosclerosis
 Peptic ulcer
 Other Cancers: larynx, esophagus, kidney, pancreas,
urinary bladder
adverse effects of Cigarette smoking

 on unborn children of mothers who smoke:

increased incidence of low birth weight, prematurity,
stillbirth, spontaneous abortion, & infant mortality
 on passive smokers: increased risk of lung cancer,
cardiovascular disease, particularly MI, & lower
respiratory tract illness; possible retardation of
physical & intellectual maturation in infants &
children
***The safest cigarette is the unsmoked one***
 cessation of Smoking / exposure

 immediate decrease in irritation, inflammation, & hyper-

responsiveness of airways, including cessation of “smoker’s
cough”
 slow decrease in excess mortality, returning to baseline in
about 20 years
 risk of MI begins to decline within a year, but takes 5-20 yrs.
to approach that of non-smokers
 risks of lung CA & laryngeal CA start to decline w/in 1-2 yrs,
but remain slightly increased even after 30 yrs.
Air pollution: Carcinogenic effects
Agent Type of Cancer
 Arsenic Skin, lung, liver
 Asbestos Mesothelioma, lung
 Benzene Myelogenous leukemia
 Beta-naphthylamine Urinary bladder
 Cadmium Prostate, kidney
 Chromium Nasal cavity, sinus, lung
 Nickel Nasal cavity, sinus, lung
 Uranium Lung
 Vinyl chloride Liver angiosarcoma
Thank You !