Air pollution and the elderly: oxidant/antioxidant issues worth consideration

Abstract

The elderly are frequently classified as being particularly susceptible to air pollution. The basis of this increased sensitivity is not known but it is likely that it is linked to age-related impaired function of the lung. However, given this uncertainty and increased impact of air pollution of this section of the community there is a need to explore the mechanisms involved.Gaseous air pollutants such as ozone and nitrogen dioxide, or many of the components adsorbed onto the surface of respirable particles, are either powerful oxidants or capable of generating free radicals. If unabated, oxidants can cause injury to the delicate cells that line the respiratory tract. Small molecular weight antioxidant defences present in respiratory tract lining fluid (RTLF) represent the first line of defence against a range of oxidants that enter the lung. The quantity and quality of the RTLF airways antioxidant network are, therefore, likely to be important determinants of the impact of the oxidant challenge on the underlying respiratory epithelium.As yet, comprehensive information on the distribution and variability of respiratory tract lining fluid antioxidant defences is only available in young, mainly healthy volunteers. Studies undertaken in patients with a range of respiratory diseases suggest that marked changes in the distribution of respiratory tract lining fluid antioxidants can occur. Information is not currently available on the impact of ageing on the respiratory tract lining fluid antioxidant defence network. As several respiratory tract lining fluid antioxidants are of dietary origin, the elderly, who often have different dietary patterns to younger individuals, may have decreased availability of important antioxidants. Given these possibilities, a better understanding of respiratory tract lining fluid antioxidant defences in the aged lung is warranted.

Vitamins C, D and Zinc: Synergistic Roles in Immune Function and Infections

“…One of the major underlying features of the toxic effects of air pollutants is oxidative stress, caused either by an imbalance of prooxidant and antioxidant processes linked to increased exposure to the air pollutants, or by the presence of impaired antioxidant defenses [109,110]. Most air pollutants are themselves free radicals (e.g., NO 2 , transition metals) or have the ability to initiate the production of free radicals (e.g., O 3 , Particulate Matter (PM)) [109,110].…”

Caffeic Acid Protects Hydrogen Peroxide Induced Cell Damage in WI-38 Human Lung Fibroblast Cells

“…So lung has good defense systems against oxidative stresses. 22,23) To study the effect of caffeic acid on oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide, we used human lung fibroblasts (WI-38 cells). The WI-38 cells from the American Type Culture Collection were maintained at 37°C in an incubator with a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO 2 and cultured in RPMI containing 1% non-essential amino acid, 10% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum, streptomycin (100 mg/ml) and penicillin (100 units/ml).…”

Air pollution and emergency admissions for cardiorespiratory diseases in Lisbon (Portugal)

“…Lisbon is the biggest urban area in Portugal with a population density of 7,272 inhabitants per km 2 and a total area of 84 km 2 . At the time of the study, 15.6% of the Lisbon population were children and adolescents under 14, 67.9% were in the range 15-64 years old, and 16.5% were elderly people.…”

“…The most susceptible to air pollution exposure are the elderly, and those with inflammatory disorders of the respiratory airways, such as asthma or severe bronchitis. 1,2 Children are at greater risk because their lungs are still growing. On the other hand, they play more actively outside, breathing more outdoor polluted air than most adults.…”

“…Possible links between air pollution, particularly that caused by atmospheric particles and SO 2 , and the number of hospital admissions have been recently established in studies from North America, [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] South America, [13][14][15][16] Asia, [17][18][19][20][21][22] Australia 22 and Europe. [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] However, there are still many aspects to elucidate the causal relationships between air pollution and physical condition, such as the separation of the short-term and long-term health effects of individual air pollutants and those of complex pollutant mixtures.…”