Childhood Asthma and Environmental Risk Factors in the City of Buffalo, New York;Final rept

摘要

The Residential Exposure to Urban Air Toxics and Childhood Asthma study was funded by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) in 1996 to address the possible environmental risk factors for asthma. The principal objective of this study was to investigate whether potential residential exposure to Urban Air Toxics (UAT) from inactive hazardous waste sites or active industrial facilities increases the risk of childhood asthma. The study integrated several existing environmental databases of objective measurements of UAT emissions with self-reported residential exposures and risk factors for asthma. This report summarizes the methods, results, and public health implications of the study. The objectives of the study were: (1) To identify specific UAT arising from active industrial facilities and hazardous waste sites, and characterize the likelihood of residential exposure to them$ (2) To relate these estimates of exposures to UAT to asthma prevalence in children$ (3) To assess the role of risk factors other than exposure to UAT on asthma prevalence$ (4) To estimate the relationship between childhood asthma and indoor residential exposures, including metals, volatile carbonyl compounds (VCCs), molds, and antigens (dust mite, roach, cat, dog, and mouse)$ (5) To assess the combined effects of UAT, indoor residential exposures, and other risk factors for asthma.