Research advances in the effects of typical air pollutants and meteorological factors on asthma in children

Asthma is a common chronic airway disease in childhood. A large number of epidemiological and experimental studies have shown that not only air pollution can induce asthma in children, but also changes in climatic factors can attack and/or aggravate the disease of asthma in children. Air pollutants affect the attack and/or aggravation of asthma by mediating airway inflammation, airway hyper-responsiveness, oxidative stress, and decreased lung function. Meteorological factors exert further impacts on asthma throμgh a variety of forms including effecting air pollutants or allergens. This paper reviews the influence and mechanism of air pollutants and meteorological factors on asthma in children.