Environmental Impacts on Infectious Disease: A Literature View of Epidemiological Evidence

BACKGROUND: This article summarises a session from the recent Pacific Basin Consortium for Environment and Health Focus meeting on Environmental Impacts on Infectious Disease. OBJECTIVE: To provide an overview of the literature underpinning the presentations from this session. METHODS: References used in developing the presentations were obtained from the presenters. Additional references were obtained from PubMed using key words from the presentations. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The Hokkaido longitudinal children’s study has found that exposure to chemicals in early life, such as persistent organic pollutants and per/polyfluorinated compounds, is associated with a range of immunological outcomes such as decreased cord blood IgE, otitis media, wheeze, increased risk of infections and higher risk of food allergy. 2. Epidemiological evidence links exposure to poor air quality to increased severity and mortality of Covid-19 in many parts of the world. Most studies suggest that long-term exposure has a more marked effect than acute exposure. 3. Components of air pollution, such as a newly described combustion product known as environmentally persistent free radicals, induce oxidative stress in exposed individuals. Individuals with genetic variations predisposing them to oxidative stress are at increased risk of adverse health effects from poor air quality.