Assessing health effects of air pollution in developing countries

Health effects of air pollution in Asia have been assessed as part of a pro gramme on Regional Air Pollution in Developing Countries. The impacts of ai r pollution on health have been studied in North America and Europe for man y decades, but research on effects on health in developing countries is les s advanced. A key question is whether the dose-response models that are bas ed on research conducted in developed countries can be applied to exposures to air pollution in developing countries. The study considered this issue and examined the factors that may lead to either increased sensitivity or i ncreased human tolerance of air pollutants. It is suggested that although t here are factors in developing countries that may increase or decrease huma n sensitivity to air pollution, overall, a similar range of sensitivity can be expected by individuals in these countries responding to the same effec tive dose as those in developed countries.