TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Living in an urban environment does not necessarily mean having healthy lungs, as air pollution and traffic exhaust can contribute to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to a Taiwan doctor.
Dr. Lee Kang-yuan (李岡遠), superintendent of Taipei Municipal Wan Fang Hospital, said that about 20% of COPD patients in Taiwan have no history of smoking, highlighting the role of environmental factors in lung disease, per UDN.
Lee said long-term exposure to air pollution, vehicle exhaust, dust, chemicals, and other workplace pollutants can cause lasting damage to the respiratory system, even among people who have never smoked. COPD is a chronic lung disease caused by prolonged exposure to harmful gases or particles.
Smoking remains its biggest risk factor because it exposes the lungs directly to high concentrations of harmful substances. However, air pollution is another significant contributor. People who spend years near heavy traffic or in workplaces with high levels of dust, smog, or chemicals can also face increased risks.
Lee said early COPD symptoms are often subtle, with patients frequently seeking medical attention only after persistent coughing, phlegm, or wheezing becomes severe. By that point, lung function may have already declined significantly.
He urged the Health Promotion Administration to consider establishing a lung function screening policy focused on high-risk groups, including smokers over age 40, traffic police, and workers with long-term exposure to air pollution, dust, and chemicals.
However, Lee acknowledged that implementing widespread screening would be challenging because lung function tests require trained personnel, standardized equipment, and regular calibration. Taiwan's current capacity may not be sufficient for large-scale screening.
A previous animal study conducted by a team from Taipei Medical University provided evidence of a possible link between traffic pollution and lung damage. Researchers placed rats in a container-like environment near busy roads, exposing one group to roadside air around the clock while keeping another group in a clean laboratory, per UDN.
After six months, the rats exposed to roadside air developed lung changes resembling COPD, providing clues about how traffic-related pollution may affect respiratory health. "People living near major roads must pay attention to their lung health," Lee said.
He advised residents to monitor air quality and reduce the amount of time windows are open when pollution levels are high or traffic is heavy. Residents living next to major roads can also use air-cleaning equipment with appropriate filtration to reduce indoor pollutants.
Ventilation can be carried out when traffic is lighter or air quality is better, such as late at night, to reduce prolonged exposure to pollutants.
Lee said long-term smokers should be among the first to receive lung function tests. Other high-risk groups include workers exposed to traffic pollution, firefighters, employees at heavily polluted facilities such as petrochemical plants, and people living near major traffic arteries.
Anyone experiencing persistent coughing, phlegm, wheezing, or reduced exercise tolerance should seek medical evaluation, he said. COPD is commonly diagnosed after age 40.
Lee recommended establishing a baseline lung function test around age 40 even for people without obvious symptoms, with high-risk individuals undergoing follow-up testing every two to three years.
He also suggested that people who have access to testing consider establishing a baseline between ages 20 and 25, when lung function typically reaches its peak before gradually declining with age. People whose lung function is already below normal at a young age should receive closer monitoring, Lee said.
