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A Hidden Threat to Children's Health: A Policy Brief on the Link Between Air Pollution and Autoimmune Diseases
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Sadegh Zarei    , Solmaz Sadat Hosseini Zijoud , Mojtaba Sajadian , Fatemeh Bemani Zare Sharifabad * |
| Department of Pediatrics, Ali-Ibn Abi-Talib Hospital, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. , medical87f@gmail.com |
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Abstract: (72 Views) |
The global rise in autoimmune diseases in children represents a significant and costly public health challenge. Concurrently, air pollution remains a pervasive environmental threat, with children being uniquely vulnerable. A robust and growing body of evidence now substantiates a link between exposure to various air pollutants, particularly during critical developmental windows, and an increased risk of onset, exacerbation, and progression of pediatric autoimmune conditions.
This policy brief aims to synthesize the current epidemiological, clinical, and mechanistic evidence on the association between air pollution and pediatric autoimmune diseases. It will delineate the biological pathways, identify vulnerable populations and critical exposure windows, and propose a multi-faceted, evidence-based policy response to mitigate this significant environmental health risk.
Urgent and coordinated action is required to integrate air quality and children's health considerations into the core of public health policy. Key recommendations include strengthening and enforcing air quality standards based on immunological health, rather than solely cardiopulmonary endpoints. We further advocate for promoting targeted longitudinal research to identify critical exposure windows and vulnerable sub-populations. It is essential to implement robust public health advisories and clinical guidance for at-risk families and to foster cross-sectoral collaboration between health, environmental, and transportation agencies. Empowering communities, especially in environmentally overburdened areas, through the creation of low-emission zones around schools and the promotion of air filtration technologies, is a critical step to protect children's immune development from this modifiable environmental risk factor. |
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| Keywords: Air Pollution, Pediatric, Autoimmune Disease, Public Health Policy, Environmental Exposure, Immune Dysregulation |
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Type of Study: Applicable |
Subject:
medicine, paraclinic
Received: 2025/11/17 | Revised: 2026/02/15 | Accepted: 2026/02/15
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