Guideline for the prevention and management of particulate matter/Asian dust particle-induced adverse health effect on the patients with pulmonary diseases

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop guidelines for the prevention and management of particulate matter (PM)/Asian dust particle (ADP)-induced adverse effects in patients with pulmonary diseases. The guideline development committee reviewed the literature on particulate matter, ADP, and pulmonary diseases. In adults, exposure to particulate matter with a diameter of 10 mu m or less (PM10) induces a decline in lung function. PM exposure confers an increased risk of lung cancer, and PM10 is associated with increased hospital admission and mortality due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. ADP exposure is associated with increased hospital admission and emergency room visits due to chronic obstractive pulmonary disease exacerbation. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis exacerbation may also be induced by pollution, although the evidence for this is very weak. There is no published study on the proper prevention or management of the exacerbation of pulmonary diseases due to PM or ADP exposure. The preventive use of a facial mask with a filter in patients with pulmonary disease should be considered carefully because there have been no clinical study of the efficacy and adverse effects of masks in pulmonary diseases. The committee created guidelines based on a discussion of the peer-reviewed literature. The proper management of PM-and ADP-induced exacerbation of pulmonary disease and the efficacy of facial mask use should be evaluated in future studies.