From roadways to wheeze: child asthma associated with traffic exposures at home and at school.

摘要

Approximately 6.2 million children in the United States are affected by asthma, a chronic respiratory disease that is becoming increasingly common in developed countries. Air pollution has been identified as one potential cause for the increase, with proximity of children's homes to heavy vehicular traffic being a particular investigative focus. However, research results have not been definitive. A unique prospective study has explored the role of traffic-related pollution in causing asthma by estimating children's exposure both at home and at school against the backdrop of regional ambient air pollution [EHP 118(7):1021-1026; McConnell et al.]. The results associate both school and home exposures with new-onset asthma in young children.