Removed Appendix 

It was traditionally taught that appendicitis may occur from obstruction of its lumen or from infection in the lymphatic patches. Now the recent study clipped below shows that there is association between air pollution level and appendicitis. This is interesting to read. The researchers also give statistical analysis, to show that after passing of 1970 clean air act in USA there is decline of appendicitis by 14.6% over last 14 years. This is new to knowledge base.

clipped from www.medpagetoday.com By Michael Smith, North American Correspondent, MedPage Today Published: October 05, 2009 Reviewed by Dori F. Zaleznik, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston and Dorothy Caputo, MA, RN, BC-ADM, CDE, Nurse Planner Short-term exposure to air pollution may trigger some cases of appendicitis, Canadian researchers said. In a study of nearly 5,200 adults admitted to hospital for acute appendicitis, high levels of ambient air pollutants such as ozone and nitrogen dioxide were associated with an increased risk of the condition, Gilaad Kaplan, MD, of the University of Calgary and colleagues reported. Ozone, (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.57) Sulfur dioxide, (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.63) Nitrogen dioxide, (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.58) Carbon monoxide, (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.80) Particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter, (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.38) Air Pollution Linked to Appendicitis

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