%0 Article %A Tombácz Szintia %D 2009 %G English %B Acta climatologica %@ 0563-0614 %T Environmental and social conditions of asthma and rhinitis %U http://acta.bibl.u-szeged.hu/16929/1/climatologica_042_043_159-173.pdf %X The frequency of respiratory diseases such as asthma and rhinitis has increased worldwide during the past decades. This increase is parallel to global warming, which creates favourable conditions for these diseases. It has been proved that people fallen ill with allergy can not concentrate on their work, feel unwell and can be on sick leave more often. Causes of respiratory diseases, their climate and weather relations, the role of the biological and chemical air pollutants and the social status are surveyed as potential risk factors.