2010, International Year of the Lung

摘要

2010 has been declared International Year of the Lung [1]. The role of pulmonary diseases in morbidity and mortality statistics is, regrettably, impressive. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is constantly on the increase, and according to the WHO will soon be among the commonest worldwide diseases [2]. But it is also the international year of the healthy lung. In recent years research has made major progress in identifying and quantifying the environmental factors that endanger the healthy lung. And here research has shown ways in which this danger can be lessened. We have succeeded in winning an internationally recognised team for a review article. N. Kunzli and his coauthors write in this issue on "outdoor pollution and lung health" on this theme [3]. They have conducted intensive research in this area, and the literature of recent years bears the corresponding stamp of their work. They were accordingly distinguished by the European Respiratory Society (ERS) for the authorship of her booklet Air Quality and Health published at the Barcelona ERS Congress in this Year of the Lung.