Indoor and outdoor pollutants and the upper respiratory tract
The health effects of both indoor and outdoor air pollutants are of increasing concern. The health effects of outdoor air pollutants traditionally have been assessed through measurements of lower respiratory tract changes. However, it has been shown that one outdoor air pollutant, sulfur dioxide, decreases nasal mucus flow and increases nasal airway resistance. Along with cigarette smoke, indoor air pollutants such as formaldehyde, cadmium, and ammonium or sulfate ions have been shown to alter upper airway mucociliary function. Emissions from wood stoves are known to irritate the upper airways. Measurement of nasal airway resistance using posterior rhinomanometry allows quantification of nasal function. This technique recently has been used to demonstrate that adolescents with allergic asthma have increased work of breathing after inhalation of 0.5 ppm sulfur dioxide. Another study using posterior rhinomanometry showed that clerical workers had increased work of breathing after exposure to carbonless copy paper as compared with bond paper. This brief review of upper respiratory tract changes after pollutant exposure should serve as a reminder that a complete clinical history must include questions designed to ascertain the patient's exposure history to both outdoor and indoor air pollutants. These exposures can have a major impact on the health of the upper respiratory system. 14 references.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Washington, Seattle (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 7138463
- Journal Information:
- J. Allergy Clin. Immunol.; (United States), Vol. 81
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Effects of sulfur oxides on nasal and lung function in adolescents with extrinsic asthma
Impact of air pollutants on athletic performance
Related Subjects
AIR POLLUTION
HEALTH HAZARDS
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
CADMIUM
FORMALDEHYDE
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SENSITIVITY
SULFATES
SULFUR DIOXIDE
NOSE
PAPER
ALDEHYDES
BODY
BODY AREAS
CHALCOGENIDES
ELEMENTS
FACE
HAZARDS
HEAD
METALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology