Asthma, allergy and environmental factors

Asthma and allergy are very common disorders, which have major effects on an individual’s quality of life. Increases in asthma and allergy were reported during the final decades of the 20th century, particularly among children. This was not restricted to the Netherlands, as other western countries were similarly affected. With reference to this, the State Secretary for the Environment, has requested advice concerning the role of various environmental factors in the development and increase of these disorders. In response to the State Secretary’s questions, the President of the Health Council of the Netherlands appointed a committee, which based its advice mostly on existing reviews of the relevant literature.