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Review
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Korean J Intern Med. 2026;41(5):831-846. Published online September 1, 2026.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2025.423
- Health effects of air pollution on chronic respiratory diseases
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Yong Suk Jo1, Jin Woo Song2
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1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
2Department of Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Corresponding author: Jin Woo Song ,Tel: +82-2-3010-3993, Fax: +82-2-3010-6968, Email: jwsongasan@gmail.com
- Received: December 16, 2025; Revised: March 7, 2026 Accepted: March 22, 2026.
- Abstract
- Exposure to both outdoor and indoor air pollution poses significant global public health challenges at all life stages. As the respiratory system serves as the primary entry route for inhaled pollutants, extensive evidence has demonstrated the detrimental effects of various air pollutants on respiratory health. Air pollution is a well-established risk factor for the development, exacerbation, and mortality of chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs), including airway diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, and lung cancer. This review summarizes the epidemiological evidence linking air pollution to the incidence and progression of CRDs and examines the impact of air quality control interventions. With the growing recognition that air pollution is a potentially preventable risk factor contributing to high morbidity and mortality, increasing attention has been directed toward protective strategies. We discuss the recent evidence on non-pharmacological interventions aimed at reducing air pollution exposure, both at the individual and social levels, and emphasize the ongoing need for integrated efforts to improve air quality and respiratory health.
Keywords :Air pollution; Asthma; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Interstitial lung disease; Lung cancer
