Economic and environmental determinants of dermato-venereal diseases in the European community area. An econometric approach

Abstract

Human skin acts as a barrier between the organism and the external milieu, being subjected and permanently responding to aggressions from various environment factors. Through alteration of cutaneous microbiome, production of reactive oxygen species, activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor and induction of inflammation cascades within skin cells, pollutants trigger and/or aggravate a multitude of skin conditions, subsequently leading to a large number of consultations in dermatology services, and therefore, to greater health expenditures. Our model proves that the number of hospital admissions in dermatology services throughout the European Union is positively correlated with air pollutants and current health care expenditure and negatively correlated with pollution abatement capital expenditures.