It is a well known fact that air pollution is a significant threat to health. Now scientists in UK have, for the very first time, shown how exhaust pollution from diesel engines is able to affect nerves within the lung and causes respiratory distress.
Diesel exhaust is a significant component of urban air pollution and contains a complicated mixture of gases and airborne particles. Mr. Ryan Robinson, a PhD student at Imperial College London, UK, said, "Studies have proved that exposure to the diesel particles, which are down to 20 nanometres in diameter, was associated with harmful health effects. The lungs contain numerous sensory nerves that can detect potentially harmful stimuli and thus allow the body to respond, for example by triggering a cough. However, we know that these nerves can also be involved in exacerbating respiratory conditions, for example by causing the bronchi to constrict in diseases such as asthma."
Air Pollution
Nearly 2.4 million deaths every year are attributable to air pollution. Air pollutants may be solid particles, liquid droplets or gases. Proper planning methods should be adopted to reduce air pollution.
The researchers used pharmacological and genetic knock out tools to understand how the diesel extract activated the airway nerves. They found that the responses to the diesel extract were driven by activation of the TRP ankryin-1 (TRPA1) channel. They also discovered that application of an antioxidant abolished the responses to the extract.
The study was presented at the 13th European Respiratory Society Lung Science Conference.
Source: Medindia
Traffic Related Air Pollution Causes Autism in Infants
Autism is characterized by developmental disturbances in social interaction, behavior and language. Air pollutants exposure can lead to autism development in infants and during pregnancy.
 Air Pollution and Cancer Incidence: a Danish Cohort StudyAir pollution is on the increase and so are the associated risks. A recently published study links air pollution near residence and cancer. | Advertisement
|
Pollution Increases the Risk to Heart Ailments
A recent study suggests that higher PM10 and NO2 (traffic associated pollutants) levels are associated with increase in myocardial infarction risk just 1-6 hours later following the exposure.
