The nose versus the environment: 1982 and today

A brief overview of recent publications dealing with the effects of environ mental pollutants on upper respiratory tract mucosa is presented. It mainly focuses on airborne irritants, substances inducing epithelial hyperplasia, metaplasia, and epithelial damage, and on inflammatory changes of nasal mu cosa associated with environmental pollutants. Data from epidemiologic surv eys, human exposure studies, animal experiments, and in vitro studies have improved present concepts of the significance of environmental pollutants f or upper respiratory diseases. Although various national and international initiatives have resulted in a considerable reduction of indoor and outdoor pollutants within recent years, environmental pollutants continue to affec t upper respiratory tract health of the population in urban areas and indus trialized regions. Continuing efforts to reduce emissions of air pollutants are indispensable.