Researchers from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology conducted a study to look at the connection between ozone and asthma and other lung disorders.

Lead researcher Ehud Keinan believes the higher incidence of asthma in urban areas is due in large part to the absence of natural “ozone scavengers” produced by plants.

“Ozone in the outer atmosphere is essential for life on earth because it absorbs the destructive ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun. But on earth, it is a dangerous component of air pollution. Numerous studies have shown exposure to ozone, even at low levels, induces airway inflammation and lung injury in humans and animals,” says Keinan.

Ozone scavengers are substances that devour ozone. This team of researchers believed these could be the key to preventing asthma. They conducted experiments exposing rats with induced asthma-like symptoms to limonene. Limonene is the main component in citrus oil. They say the lung function of the rats showed that limonene inhalation prevented asthmatic symptoms.

More research in both animals and humans is currently underway. Meanwhile, study authors say researchers need to take a serious look at citrus oils and their use in treating asthma.

SOURCE: Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, published online Dec. 10, 2004