The effect of ozone exposure on asthma and the potential mechanisms

Abstract

Near-surface ozone is a profoundly reactive and highly oxidizing gas and one of the critical respiratory toxicants. Numerous epidemiological investigations have indicated that asthmatic individuals are the vulnerable group of ozone exposure， and there is a strong correlation between ozone exposure and asthma morbidity and mortality rates. The potential mechanisms include oxidative stress， inflammatory response， autonomic nerve impairment， and immune dysfunction. The present study summarized and discussed the effect of ozone exposure on asthma and its underlying biological mechanisms in order to galvanize public cognizance concerning the perils of ozone pollution and serve as a reference for future research on ozone exposure and asthma.

Keywords

• ozone
• asthma
• oxidative stress
• inflammation
• autonomic nerve impairment
• immune dysfunction