This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Pickering, C.A.C. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Immune Respiratory Disease Associated with the Inadequate Control of Indoor Air Quality

Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK

The prevalence of immunologically determined respiratory diseases is in creasing throughout the world and this has been associated with an increased mortality from bronchial asthma. Consequently, there has been considerable interest in the factors that may influence the development of allergic disor ders. The first few weeks following birth have been identified as important in determining the development of sensitivity to airborne allergens and subse quent allergic respiratory disorders. The expression of allergic diseases is both genetically determined and influenced to a significant degree by environmen tal factors related to indoor air quality. As well as possibly initiating allergic disease in the post-natal period, poor indoor air quality may cause respiratory disease in later life. These diseases may be allergic in origin (bronchial asthma or allergic alveolitis) or may be due to infections (Legionnaires' disease). The contamination of indoor air by micro-organisms may occur from the structure of the building, the ventilation system or be introduced into the building from the outside air. The off-gassing of chemicals within buildings has attracted considerable attention over the past few years, but the evidence that this pro cess can cause immunological disease in man is very limited. It is concluded that indoor air quality is an important potential cause of immunological respi ratory disease in man which has been and still is frequently neglected.

Key Words: Respiratory diseases • Allergy • Asthma • Immunological diseases • Legionella • Humidifier fever • Pontiac fever

Indoor and Built Environment, Vol. 1, No. 3, 157-161 (1992)
DOI: 10.1177/1420326X9200100305


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?