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Review
. 2022 Jan 14;19(2):895.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph19020895.

Air Pollution in Poland: A 2022 Narrative Review with Focus on Respiratory Diseases

Wojciech Nazar  1 , Marek Niedoszytko  2
Affiliations
Review

Air Pollution in Poland: A 2022 Narrative Review with Focus on Respiratory Diseases

Wojciech Nazar et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

According to the World Bank Group, 36 of the 50 most polluted cities in the European Union are in Poland. Thus, ambient air pollution and its detrimental health effects are a matter of immense importance in Poland. This narrative review aims to analyse current findings on air pollution and health in Poland, with a focus on respiratory diseases, including COVID-19, as well as the Poles' awareness of air pollution. PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases were searched. In total, results from 71 research papers were summarized qualitatively. In Poland, increased air pollution levels are linked to increased general and respiratory disease mortality rates, higher prevalence of respiratory diseases, including asthma, lung cancer and COVID-19 infections, reduced forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC). The proximity of high traffic areas exacerbates respiratory health problems. People living in more polluted regions (south of Poland) and in the winter season have a higher level of air pollution awareness. There is an urgent need to reduce air pollution levels and increase public awareness of this threat. A larger number of multi-city studies are needed in Poland to consistently track the burden of diseases attributable to air pollution.

Keywords: COVID-19; Poland; ambient air pollution; asthma; atopy; respiratory diseases; spirometry.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Studies selection.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Location of cities mentioned in this review. Blue dots represent cities located in the Silesian Voivodeship. Red dots represent all other cities.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Cities located in the Silesian Voivodeship.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Effect of air pollution on hospitalization and mortality rates.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Effect of air pollution on children’s health.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Effect of air pollution on adults’ health.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Characteristics of social awareness of air pollution in Poland.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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MeSH terms