Air pollution refers to the presence of harmful or excessive substances in the air, including gases, particulates, and biological molecules. This form of environmental degradation adversely impacts our ecosystem, causing damage to plants, animals, and human beings. One of the most critical and direct effects of air pollution on humans is the exacerbation of various respiratory diseases. These diseases range from chronic conditions, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), to acute respiratory infections and lung cancer. The link between air pollution and these conditions is established and studied by numerous research, with emphasis on the detrimental impact of different pollutants like particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ground-level ozone (O3).
Understanding the relationship between air pollution and respiratory diseases is crucial due to its broad public health implications. Additionally, the relevance of this topic is further underscored by the increasing impacts of climate change. As industrialization and urbanization continue to accelerate globally, air pollution becomes a pervasive issue, affecting millions of people. Concurrently, climate change alters weather patterns and air quality, potentially enhancing the harmful effects of air pollution. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, a majority of which are due to respiratory diseases induced or exacerbated by poor air quality. Climate change could escalate these numbers if proactive measures are not taken. Besides the human toll, these conditions also place a significant burden on healthcare systems and economies.
In the context of this journal's focus on respiratory health, our forthcoming collection of articles will address air pollution with respiratory diseases and the underlying mechanisms from multiple angles. Subtopics will encompass empirical studies detailing the effects of climate change and air pollutants on respiratory health (i.e. asthma, COPD, infectious disease, pulmonary fibrosis, and lung cancer).
This collection invites research articles, review articles, meta-analysis, and case series that deepen our understanding of the complex interplay between air pollution and respiratory health. Our ultimate goal is to foster dialogue and spur innovative solutions to this pressing global health challenge regarding respiratory protection.
Annals of Medicine accepts the following types of articles:
- Research Articles
- Review Articles
- Clinical Trials
- Protocols
- Case Series
- Commentaries
- Letter To The Editor
When submitting your article, please select the section, ‘Pulmonary Medicine’, and the Special Issue, ‘Air Pollution and Respiratory Diseases’ from the drop-down menu on the submission system.
Annals of Medicine is an online, open access, international journal publishing across all areas of medicine and is part of our Elevate Series. This means that you will receive a concierge-level publishing experience, including dedicated support from our expert in-house Editorial team, with guaranteed response times of within 48 hours, an initial decision on whether your article will be peer reviewed within 5 working days, and a first decision on your research within an average of 22 working days.
