Ambient Air Pollution, Climate, Land Use, and Small-Area Incidence of Interstitial Lung Disease: A Bi-National Semi-Ecological Study

Extract Interstitial lung disease (ILD) has a complex, multifactorial aetiology involving genetic susceptibility and environmental exposures [1]. While some ILDs have well-recognised environmental triggers, including hypersensitivity pneumonitis which is commonly associated with exposure to organic antigens or pneumoconiosis secondary to occupational exposures such as silica or asbestos [2], identification of environmental risk factors remains elusive for many other ILDs, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).