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Air Pollution and Allergies: A Connection?Medical Author:
Alan Szeftel, MD, FCCP
By far the most important indoor pollutant is tobacco smoke, which is strongly associated with allergic sensitization, asthma, and other respiratory illnesses. Exposure to smoke results in the body's enhanced ability to produce IgE (the allergy antibody) that attaches to allergens (e.g. pollen, dust mites and dander). The IgE response is a key trigger of allergic reactions. Parental smoking increases the risk of their children having many respiratory illnesses, including bronchitis, chronic cough, and asthma. |
Does the "air we breathe" have an impact on the
rising incidence of
allergies and asthma?
