Smoking and air pollution - their impact on lung development from the prenatal period to childhood

Air pollution and tobacco smoke have a substantial impact on the lungs development during both pre- and postnatal period. The harmful particles from the tobacco smoke (includind second hand smoking and e-cigarette) can cross the placental barrier, leading to decreased pulmonary function, respiratory infections, and an increased risk of asthma in childhood. In-utero exposure to air pollutants can lead to preterm birth, lower birth weight, and lung developmental defects. The presence of NO2, SO2, and PM10 in prenatal period was associated with the risk of developing asthma and in postnatal period with a lower increase in lung function (FEV1). The reports and research in this field continues and harmful environmental exposures is a key component in developing future strategies for health care systems.