What are main COPD causes?
The risk to develop COPD is related to the burden of inhaled noxious particles that a person encounters during his or her life. First source of inhaled noxious particles is by far tobacco smoke, including cigarette, pipe, cigar, and other types of tobacco. Passive smoking may also contribute to COPD development by increasing the lungs total burden of inhaled particles and gases. Moreover, smoking during pregnancy is also very risky for the fetus, because this habit may affect lung growth and development. Other possible, but less common, causes of COPD are occupational dusts and chemicals (vapours, irritants, and fumes), indoor air pollution (determined, for instance, by biomass fuel used for cooking) and outdoor air pollution.
