Long-term exposure to outdoor air pollutants, especially ozone, accelerates the development of emphysema and age-related decline in lung function, even among people who have never smoked, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Long-term exposure to outdoor air pollutants, especially ozone, accelerates the development of emphysema and age-related decline in lung function, even among people who have never smoked, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The findings may help explain why emphysema, a chronic lung disease, is relatively common in nonsmokers.
Chronic lower respiratory disease—a catchall term for emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, and asthma—is the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States and third-leading cause of death worldwide. Short-term exposure to air pollutants is a major risk factor for poor lung health. But the long-term effects of air pollutants on the lungs are not well understood.
Read more at: Columbia University Irving Medical Center
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