Metanalysis: Respiratory Effects in the General Population Exposed to Urban Pollution

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate spirometric lung function parameters in the general population exposed to urban pollution and confirm the existence of an association between exposure to environmental pollutants and effects from these products and which respiratory parameters are associated to urban pollution in general population. Methods: This study is a systematic research of all articles on the assessment of respiratory effects on general population exposed to urban pollution, excluding studies on adolescents and children. The research included articles from January 2008 to May 2009. In the articles included in our meta-analysis, the exposed group is represented by general population aged between 15 and 75 years for both genders, resident in very polluted urban areas, while the control group is represented by general population resident in rural and suburban areas, where pollution is lower. Results: The results confirm the presence of statistically significant effects of urban pollution on the respiratory system for cough, phlegm, shortness of breath/breathlessness, wheezing, FVC, FEV1, PEFR, chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, rhinitis, emphysema.