Air Pollution as a Major Public Health Concern in Asia
摘要
Air pollution has been increasingly recognised as a major environmental threat to public health worldwide, particularly in Asia due to rapid urbanisation. Previous studies were mainly conducted in Western settings. In this chapter, we synthesised the growing body of epidemiological evidence on the associations of exposure to various air pollutants, such as inhalable particles, fine particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone, with major chronic diseases in the Asian population. We further identified the potential gaps in the current studies and proposed future research directions to better understand the influences and biological mechanisms of air pollution on noncommunicable diseases (NCDS). Drawing on current evidence from epidemiological studies, this chapter provides insights into the current progress regarding the link between air pollutant exposure and NCDS and implications for future studies and for developing targeted strategies and strengthening public health efforts and policies to mitigate the burden of air pollution-related NCDS in Asia.