Effects of Air Pollutants Exposure on Cardiopulmonary and Metabolic Diseases

Instead of a local or regional problem, air pollution is considered as a global issue with potential long-distance atmospheric transportation and rendering health implications. In this chapter, we summarize the evidences from epidemiological and experimental studies on the effects of exposure to particulate matter (PM), ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and carbon monoxide (CO) on respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic systems. Based on in vitro and in vivo studies assessing the effects of air pollutants on cardiopulmonary and metabolic diseases, the biological mechanisms underlying these observations are also summarized. Although both personal intervention and government management and controls have been proved to improve air quality and human health, ongoing research is still needed in this area, with the possibility of therapeutic interventions to reduce the impact of environmental air pollution on cardiopulmonary and metabolic disease in the nearest future.