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Review
. 2025:30:7.
doi: 10.1265/ehpm.24-00243.

Climate change, air pollution and chronic respiratory diseases: understanding risk factors and the need for adaptive strategies

Jiayu Xu  1 , Zekang Su  2 , Chenchen Liu  3 , Yuxuan Nie  4 , Liangliang Cui  3
Affiliations
Review

Climate change, air pollution and chronic respiratory diseases: understanding risk factors and the need for adaptive strategies

Jiayu Xu et al. Environ Health Prev Med. 2025.

Abstract

Under the background of climate change, the escalating air pollution and extreme weather events have been identified as risk factors for chronic respiratory diseases (CRD), causing serious public health burden worldwide. This review aims to summarize the effects of changed atmospheric environment caused by climate change on CRD. Results indicated an increased risk of CRD (mainly COPD, asthma) associated with environmental factors, such as air pollutants, adverse meteorological conditions, extreme temperatures, sandstorms, wildfire, and atmospheric allergens. Furthermore, this association can be modified by factors such as socioeconomic status, adaptability, individual behavior, medical services. Potential pathophysiological mechanisms linking climate change and increased risk of CRD involved pulmonary inflammation, immune disorders, oxidative stress. Notably, the elderly, children, impoverished groups and people in regions with limited adaptability are more sensitive to respiratory health risks caused by climate change. This review provides a reference for understanding risk factors of CRD in the context of climate change, and calls for the necessity of adaptive strategies. Further interdisciplinary research and global collaboration are needed in the future to enhance adaptability and address climate health inequality.

Keywords: Air pollution; Climate change; Extreme weather events; Respiratory health; Vulnerability.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Potential risk and influencing factors linking climate change and chronic respiratory diseases
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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