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Prof. Dr. Moo Kyun Park

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Guest Editor

Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, 101, Daehak-ro Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Korea
Interests: otitis media; hearing loss; dizziness; air pollution

Dr. Hyo-Geun Choi

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Assistant Guest Editor

Department of Otolaryngology, Hallym University College of Medicine,1 Hallimdaehak-gil, Okcheon-dong, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do 24252, South Korea
Interests: registered data; air pollution; head and neck disease

Dr. So Young Kim

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Assistant Guest Editor

Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, CHA University College of Medicine, 59, Yatap-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do 13496, Korea
Interests: dizziness; otitis media; hearing loss; hearing aid; tinnitus
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Seung-No Hong

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Assistant Guest Editor

Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Boramae-Gil, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-707, Korea
Interests: allergic rhinitis; sinusitis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We cannot overemphasize the importance of the ears, nose, and throat in communicating with other people. The ears, nose, and tongue are sensory organs for hearing and balance, olfaction, and taste, respectively. The nose, sinus, and larynx are part of the respiratory system, which affects the morbidity of the lower respiratory tract. Air pollution is a growing concern in public health and a recognized risk factor for various diseases. Ear, nose, and throat are the first regions to encounter air pollutants. Ear, nose, and throat diseases include sensory disorders, infections, allergies, and malignancies. These are both common and serious health problems. Some studies have revealed associations between air pollution levels and ENT diseases such as allergic rhinitis, olfactory dysfunction, and otitis media. However, the effect of air pollution on ear, nose, and throat diseases has not been well defined and investigated. Papers addressing these topics are invited for this Special Issue, especially those addressing the risk and mechanism of air pollutants on the ear, nose, and throat and providing optimal solutions. Epidemiology studies, clinical studies, basic research papers, and review papers are welcome to this Issue.

Prof. Dr. Moo Kyun Park
Dr. Hyo-Geun Choi
Dr. So Young Kim
Dr. Seung-No Hong
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

air pollution
ear
nose
throat
communication
sensory organ
upper respiratory track
human health impact

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

9 pages, 325 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Indoor Environment and Otitis Media among Australian Children: A National Cross-Sectional Study

by David Veivers, Gail M. Williams, Brett G. Toelle, Adriana M. Cortés de Waterman, Yuming Guo, Lyn Denison, Bo-Yi Yang, Guang-Hui Dong, Bin Jalaludin, Guy B. Marks and Luke D. Knibbs

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(3), 1551; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19031551 - 29 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2456

Abstract

The association between the indoor environment and lifetime prevalence of otitis media (OM) in Australian children was assessed. We analysed data from a cross-sectional study of children, aged 7–11 years, performed in twelve Australian cities during 2007–2008. The main outcome was a parental report of their child’s diagnosis with OM by a doctor. Information on the indoor environment (energy sources used for heating, cooling, and cooking, pets, and second-hand smoke exposure), in the first year of life and at present, was collected from parents by a questionnaire. Multi-level logistic regression models were used to adjust for individual- and area-level confounders. Our analysis comprised 2872 children (51% female, mean age: 10.0 (SD 1.2)). Of those, 1097 (39%) were reported to have OM. Exposure to gas heating in the first year of life was significantly associated with higher odds of OM in adjusted models (OR:1.22; 95% CI: 1.00,1.47), as was current exposure to reverse-cycle air conditioning (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.27,1.82). Ownership of a cat or dog at any time was also associated with high odds of OM (OR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.17,1.92). No other significant associations were observed. In this national study of Australian children, indoor environmental exposures associated with the lifetime prevalence of OM were gas heating, reverse-cycle air conditioning and pet ownership. Exposures in both early life and later childhood may both play a role in OM. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Air Pollutants on Ear, Nose, and Throat Diseases)

Review

Jump to: Research

17 pages, 1462 KiB

Open AccessReview

Effects of Air Pollutants on Airway Diseases

by Yun-Gi Lee, Pureun-Haneul Lee, Seon-Muk Choi, Min-Hyeok An and An-Soo Jang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(18), 9905; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18189905 - 20 Sep 2021

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 6989

Abstract

Air pollutants include toxic particles and gases emitted in large quantities from many different combustible materials. They also include particulate matter (PM) and ozone, and biological contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which can penetrate the human airway and reach the bloodstream, triggering airway inflammation, dysfunction, and fibrosis. Pollutants that accumulate in the lungs exacerbate symptoms of respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Asthma, a heterogeneous disease with complex pathological mechanisms, is characterized by particular symptoms such as shortness of breath, a tight chest, coughing, and wheezing. Patients with COPD often experience exacerbations and worsening of symptoms, which may result in hospitalization and disease progression. PM varies in terms of composition, and can include solid and liquid particles of various sizes. PM concentrations are higher in urban areas. Ozone is one of the most toxic photochemical air pollutants. In general, air pollution decreases quality of life and life expectancy. It exacerbates acute and chronic respiratory symptoms in patients with chronic airway diseases, and increases the morbidity and risk of hospitalization associated with respiratory diseases. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. Therefore, we reviewed the impact of air pollutants on airway diseases such as asthma and COPD, focusing on their underlying mechanisms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Air Pollutants on Ear, Nose, and Throat Diseases)

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