We have no doubt today of the evils of pollution on human health. A French study estimated that air pollutants were responsible for 3 000 deaths per year, mainly cardiovascular mortality! Furthermore, we also know that pollutants Motor promote microbial infections among younger, especially fine particles and nitrogen dioxide.
Asthma, allergies … pollution suspected
We know that people with asthma and children in general are considered more vulnerable to exposure to air pollutants. But several studies have strongly suspected the involvement of these pollutants in the same occurrence of asthma and allergy. In 2001, the Korean work conducted with 8 000 children 1 suggest such a link. An observation far from trivial when we know that in France, there are approximately 25% of allergic and they are every year more and more!
Many data link pollution from road traffic allergies. In laboratory (in vitro), for example, the fine particles emitted by diesel vehicles, promote the synthesis of immunoglobulin E (a marker of allergy). In vivo, NO2, in turn, irritates the lungs, lowers the body’s defenses against infections and respiratory tract has been implicated in the onset of asthma. In summary, it seems clear that there is an association between increased concentrations of fine particles in the atmosphere and allergies.
