Chemical pollution, respiratory allergy and asthma: a perspective

Abstract

The European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals (ECETOC) convened a workshop in June 2005 to address the speculation that exposure to specific chemicals, and/or chemical pollutants in general, may play an important role in the increased prevalence of allergy and asthma in 'westernized' societies. This paper summarises one perspective arrived at during this workshop. It was acknowledged that certain chemicals and certain types of pollution might trigger or exacerbate asthmatic reactions in sensitised subjects. However, overall levels of pollution appear not to have had a major impact upon the prevalence of atopic allergy. Epidemiological studies suggest that pollution may in some circumstances protect from acquisition of sensitisation. Increasing exposure to household chemicals may enhance pre-existing allergies, but evidence for their causation of allergy is lacking. Other risk factors considered included societal dietary changes and exposure to endotoxins. Future research needs were identified which included epidemiological studies employing exposure and biomonitoring data, studies on domestic exposure to chemicals and their association with the incidence of allergy and asthma, and prospective birth cohort studies employing well-defined aspects of lifestyle, diet, chemical and endotoxin exposure as factors that may drive susceptibility to allergy and asthma.

Household chemicals, immune function, and allergy: A commentary

“…However, although these investigations appeared to reveal a clear correlation between household cleaning materials and clinical disease, it was argued that this was a reflection of the ability of such materials to elicit or exacerbate reactions in those with pre-existing airway disease (Evans et al, 2008). There was no reason, on the basis of those investigations, to implicate domestic cleaning materials as a cause of increased susceptibility to allergic sensitization.…”

“…In a recent review, it was concluded that at that time (Evans et al, 2008) there was little reason to suppose that exposure to chemicals per se had caused an increased susceptibility to allergic sensitization. Nevertheless, we have been prompted here to reconsider this conclusion in the light of a recent article published by Choi et al (2010b).…”

“…The other candidate that has been suggested is chemical exposure, i.e., that exposure to specific chemicals or to chemicals in general is able to cause an increased susceptibility to allergic sensitization (Evans et al, 2008). It is that theme that will be explored in the following section.…”

TVOCs emissions from disinfectants, bonding agents and acrylic substances in a controlled dental office

“…Risks to human health include respiratory disorders such as asthma (Evans et al, 2008), building-related illness (Pappas et al, 2000) and cancer (Wolkoff et al, 1998). In this context, air quality studies in indoor workplace microenvironments such as clinics and dental settings have been conducted (Godwin et al, 2003;Helmis et al, 2007).…”

Benzene Metabolites Inhibit the Release of Proinflammatory Mediators and Cytokines from Human Basophils

“…For these reasons benzene is a cause of an increased rate of hospital admissions for acute asthma attacks (17)(18).…”