Dear Dr. Raju , Is it true that the air is getting more and more politteid and Is it that that people are getting asthma beacause the air is politteid or, beacause of the hot summer weather we have. Thank you Raman   Dear Raman, Most people believe that air pollution has a direct link with asthma. This actually may not be true. New Zealand, Ireland and the UK which you know are some of the cleanest countries in the world have the most number of children with asthma- a fact that argues against the role of pollution in the direct causation of asthma. The current belief is that asthma has a genetic component (it is to some extent inherited) and the environmental pollutants in the form of smoke, etc, act as triggers in those who are born susceptible. I do hope that by the time this reply reaches you your asthma is under good control with your regular 'preventer' inhaler. Thank you for writing to me. Take care. Dr Raju