The authors of a recently published study claim that an inflamed noseresult of air pollutioncould be. Symptoms of rhinitis are more severe in people exposed to higher levels of outdoor air pollution. This is the conclusion reached by the research team from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), supported by “la Caixa”.
Sore nose due to air pollution
Rhinitis is a disease of the nasal mucosa that affects between 20% and 50% of the world's population. This is what stands out above allstuffy nose, sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal irritation and in some cases a reduced sense of smell. Despite the high prevalence of rhinitis, people know little about the risk factors, which include poor air quality. Researcher Bénédicte Jacquemin, who led this study, explains the logic behind it:
“Rhinitis is linked to asthma, which is closely linked to air pollution. For this reason, we thought it would be interesting to investigate whether long-term exposure to air exists. Environmental pollution also plays a crucial role in rhinitis. “
The study analyzed data from 1,408 patients with rhinitis from 17 different European cities, including Barcelona and Oviedo, Paris, Antwerp, Umeå and Erfurt. Participants answered a questionnaire about the severity of each of their symptoms and the extent to which the condition interferes with their daily life. Data on the air pollution each participant was exposed to came from the European Air Pollution Effects Cohort Study (ESCAPE), in which ISGlobal was also involved.
Research the role of air particles
The fine dust or particles in the air, whose diameter can vary from micrometers to millimeters, are solid or liquid bodies. In this context, those with a diameter of less than 2.5 and less than 10 micrometers are of particular interest. As the study shows, people living in cities with higher salaries report the most severe symptoms. A 5 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was associated with a 17% higher likelihood of a sore nose. These particles were associated with increased levels of nasal irritation and sneezing. In contrast, exposure to NO2 increased the amount of nasal discharge.
Airborne particulate matter and NO2 are both traffic-related pollutants. “The role of these pollutants in the severity of symptoms is likely related to oxidative stress, apoptosis (a process that eliminates irreparably damaged cells) and inflammation,” explains Emilie Burte, lead author of the study. “Our results suggest that the effect of airborne particles is different from the effect of gaseous emissions (NO2). This is likely because their respective mechanisms of action produce different inflammatory responses in the airways. However, further studies are required to confirm this hypothesis.”
“This study contributes to our understanding of rhinitis. “This is a disease that, although not fatal, represents a major public health challenge, affecting the quality of daily life of those affected, placing a high burden on public funds in addition to prescribed treatments, reduced productivity and absenteeism,” adds Jacquemin added.
