Allergie und luftschadstoffe

The prevalence of allergic diseases has increased in modern Western countries during the last decades. Among the hypotheses for the reasons the idea that environmental pollutants may play a role is intensively discussed. In order to characterise the influence of these pollutants on the development, elicitation and chronification of allergic reactions (allergotoxicology) epidemiological, clinical and experimental data have to be considered. These investigations show that among pollutants with an enhancing effect on allergy development pollution types with nitrogen oxides (NO_X), ozone (O₃), tobacco smoke, particulate matter and diesel exhaust panicles are of special interest.