Topic:  Air Pollution and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Speaker: Hsiao-Chi Chuang (Professor of School of Respiratory Therapy, Taipei Medical University)

Time: October 9, 2025 1:30-3:00 pm

Venue: Lecture Room 602 at College of Medicine

Abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global health issue, currently the fourth-leading cause of death worldwide and projected to become the third by 2020. While smoking is a key risk factor, many COPD patients are non-smokers, pointing to other contributors like air pollution. Epidemiological studies link acute COPD exacerbations (AEs) to urban levels of particulate matter (PM), with PM exposure reducing lung function and accelerating COPD progression. A cohort study found that each unit increase in PM2.5 was associated with a 2.3% rise in AEs, and exposure above 15.4 μg/m³ raised AE risk by 54%. Recent U.S. studies show chronic exposure to air pollutants like PM2.5 and NOx correlates with emphysema progression, confirmed through CT imaging and lung function tests. Cellular senescence—where cells stop dividing—plays a role in aging-related diseases like COPD. Alveolar type II epithelial cells (AECII), vital for repairing alveolar damage, undergo increased apoptosis in COPD, disrupting normal regeneration. This imbalance in cell turnover—heightened proliferation alongside apoptosis—leads to alveolar destruction and reduced lung surface area, key features of emphysema. Understanding how air pollution drives these pathological changes is crucial for addressing COPD’s progression and developing effective interventions.