%0 Journal Article %T Contaminantes a¨¦reos y sus efectos en pacientes al¨¦rgicos del Valle de Caracas %A Perdomo de Ponce %A Doris %J Gaceta M¨¦dica de Caracas %D 2009 %I Scientific Electronic Library Online %X the prevalence and severity of allergic diseases is increasing at alarming rate worldwide. the principal emerging diseases are located in therespiratory tractdue to inhalation of localand regional pollutants as aconsequence observed and registered climate changes in our planet. numerous articles about climate change and its effect on the allergic reaction have appeared in recent literature, specifically in relation to the allergen exposure including: type, frequency, geographical location, quantity and quality, in particular pollen grains due to changes in the weather and duration of the flowering season of allergenic plants, changes in the vegetation are very sensitive indicators of climate change. the increase in co2 increases the plant biomass, plant distribution, pollen production and in great degree its allergenic capacity. other important effects are observed in the inflammatory response to proteins, insect allergens and crossed reactivity between allergens of the population at risk. agents such as the ozone, material particles, sulphur dioxide and diesel particles are known as reactive oxygen species, such as superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals. the reactive oxygen species can damage proteins, lipids an dna directly. the pollutants produce a reversible effect on pulmonary function, the inflammatorymechanismoftheairways,producebronquial hyperreactivity, compromise the immunological function, increase the incidence and exacerbation of pulmonary diseases such as asthma and its mortality rate. these agents also stimulate the increase in permeability of the mucosa airway, which facilitates the rapid pass and entry of antigens to the deeper layers and as a result facilitate the interaction with immune system cells. a synergism between diesel particles and air allergens in the upper human mucosa respiratory tract has been proposed and it is thought that th2 citokines stimulate the production of specific ige. this can be explained by the propert %K pollen %K asthma %K polinic map %K aromatic hydrocarbons. %U http://www.scielo.org.ve/scielo.php?script=sci_abstract&pid=S0367-47622009000400003&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en