Air Pollution in the Asia-Pacific Region. A Joint Asian Pacific Society of Respirology/American Thoracic Society Perspective

The Asia-Pacific (AP) region is home to over 4.5 billion people, more than half of the world’s population. It is a diverse and beautiful part of the world that includes not only 7 of the world’s 10 most populous countries but also some of the world’s smallest island nations. The AP region celebrates many cultures and people, and over the last several decades, it has seen industrial and technological developments with major economic growth. Such extraordinary achievements in productivity have accelerated the emergence of environmental challenges and increased the prevalence of diseases that are associated with pollution in industrialized economies. This cost of economic success has increased the need for environmental preservation and sustainable, healthy living environments. Foremost among such aspirations are the universal right to breathe clean air and the collective moral obligation to provide children with the opportunity to grow and develop healthy lungs. The Asian Pacific Society of Respirology (APSR) and the American Thoracic Society (ATS) are two leading professional respiratory societies. The APSR was established in 1986 to encourage research, improve clinical practice through teaching, increase awareness of respiratory health problems, and promote the exchange of knowledge among pulmonologists (i.e., respirologists) in the AP region. The 11 countries of the APSR comprise 9% of the world’s population and include Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Kyrgyz Republic, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Approximately 15,700 healthcare professionals have membership in the APSR. The ATS was founded in 1905 as the American Sanatorium Association with an initial mission to prevent, control, and treat tuberculosis. It was renamed the American Trudeau Society in 1938 and then the American Thoracic Society in 1960; with the renaming, its core mission was broadened to improve health worldwide by advancing research, clinical care, and public health in respiratory disease, critical illness, and sleep disorders. The ATS has a membership of more than 16,000 physicians, research scientists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.