RESPIRATORY HEALTH AND EMERGING PULMONARY CHALLENGES

Abstract

Respiratory health is a key indicator of public health status, as the respiratory system plays a direct role in sustaining life and is highly sensitive to environmental changes. Lung diseases—whether infectious or chronic—remain leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The World Health Organization reports that chronic respiratory diseases, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), asthma, lung cancer, and pulmonary fibrosis, impose a substantial and growing disease burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (WHO, 2025). Furthermore, acute respiratory infections, pneumonia, and tuberculosis (TB) remain significant global public health issues. Global changes over the past two decades have fundamentally altered the landscape of respiratory health. Rapid urbanization, industrialization, the rising number of motor vehicles, and the growth of densely populated areas have led to a significant increase in exposure to air pollution. Particulate Matter 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and tropospheric ozone are known to be associated with an increased incidence of asthma, COPD, cardiovascular disease, and premature death due to lung disease (Brauer et al., 2024; Hay et al., 2025). In many developing countries, including Indonesia, exposure to indoor air pollution resulting from the use of biomass fuels for cooking remains a significant risk factor for women and children.