ASSOCIATION BETWEEN LONG-TERM AIR POLLUTION EXPOSURE AND THE BURDEN OF RESPIRATORY DISEASES AMONG URBAN POPULATIONS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF EPIDEMIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE
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Keywords
Air Pollution Exposure, Respiratory Diseases, Urban Populations, Urbanization, industrialization
Abstract
Introduction: Urbanization and industrialization have enhanced the levels of air pollution, which has contributed to the high incidence of respiratory diseases such as asthma, COPD, and infections. Studying the impacts of pollution at its final stages would be very important to help in framing health policies.
Aim: This current review synthesizes existing epidemiological research to examine long-term exposure to air pollution and its impact on respiratory diseases among urban dwellers.
Methods: This involved a systematic review done according to PRISMA guidelines, where studies on air pollution – PM₂.₅, NO₂, SO₂, and O₃ – concerning respiratory health were included. The quality and bias of the included studies were evaluated by using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Joanna Briggs Institute for quality assessment checklist.
Results: A search of twenty selected high quality case-control and cohort studies revealed that long term exposure to air pollution was positively related to respiratory diseases incidence, worsening and death. Among all of the pollutants considered in this study, PM₂.₅ and NO₂ had the closest relationships with the reduction of lung function and hospitalization risk.
Conclusion: This study concludes that long-term exposure to air pollution is bad for health, especially the respiratory health of individuals. The effect of alcohol abuse on the society under review and it is therefore likely to be curbed through stricter regulations, public health urging and research.
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Nabeela Yasmeen
Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Sheikh Zayed Medical College, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan
Shazia Sultan
Senior Demonstrator Physiology, Sheikh Zayed Medical College, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan
Hafsa Syeda Shuaib
MB Bch Bao, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland- Medical University of Bahrain
Akashnath Kivalur Ganeshanath
NHS Wales
Jude Albaghli
Faculty of Medicine, Health Science Center, Kuwait University, Safat 13110, Kuwait
Humera Ismail
Manager Research and Development, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Institute of Trauma, Karachi, Pakistan