Pollution increases allergies, asthma, stroke risk
Ground-breaking new evidence shows that vehicular pollution increases the risk of asthma and allergies in children, and strokes in adults.
A key study shows that traffic-related pollution greatly increases the risk of developing allergies in childhood.
The research is a key step in further understanding the link between traffic pollution and childhood allergies. Previous studies linking pollution to allergies have not proved a consistent link, while the latest study provides clear evidence of how pollution damges health.
The study finds that the risk of developing asthma, eczema, hay fever or other allergies is a staggering fifty percent higher for children living 50m from a busy road, compared to those living one kilometer away.
Joachim Heinrich, Ph.D., of the German Research Center for Environment and Health at the Institute of Epidemiology, led the study and has expressed concern at the findings.
"[Children] living very close to a major road are likely to be exposed not only to a higher amount of traffic-derived particles and gases but also to a more freshly emitted aerosols which may be more toxic” Mr Heinrich wrote in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
The researchers studied 2,860 children at four years old and 3,061 at the age of six to investigate allergic sensitization and atopic diseases. The distance to the nearest main road was used as a surrogate for traffic-related air pollutants. A busy road was considered to be one used by 10,000 cars a day.
Parents filled out questionnaires about their child's respiratory diagnoses and symptoms. Their children were assessed for asthma, wheezing, sneezing and eczema. At six years of age, the children were tested for food allergies. Air was tested for particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide near high-traffic areas once each season between March 1999 and July 2000.
This study found a clear difference in the children's allergic development with relation to their proximity to a busy road.
“Strong positive associations were found between the distance to the nearest main road and asthmatic bronchitis, hay fever, eczema, and sensitization.” Mr Heinrich wrote.
Another study from May 2008 backs up this study’s findings that pollution can cause asthma. Scientists have found that free radical pollution in the air could damage amino acids, the building blocks for proteins in the body, ultimately causing asthma. Research indicates that the nitrate radical reacts with amino acids to form compounds such as beta-nitrate esters, beta-carbonyl, and aromatic nitro-compounds. Researchers state that some of these compounds have been associated with increased immune response in some respiratory diseases, thereby worsening symptoms.
“While our observed association between PM2.5 and stroke/TIA risk requires further study in additional regions in the US with varying types of climates and possibly with alternative study designs, it does call into question current standards for fine particulate matter and whether these standards are sufficient to protect the public with regard to stroke, our nation’s third leading cause of death,” the authors note.
These latest studies indicate that air pollution is causing a lot more damage to our health than previously thought.
The study
Methods: We studied 2,860 children at the age of 4 years and 3,061 at the age of 6 years to investigate atopic diseases and allergic sensitization. Long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5), PM2.5 absorbance, and long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was assessed at residential addresses using geographic information systems based regression models and air pollution measurements. The distance to the nearest main road was used as a surrogate for traffic-related air pollutants.
Measurements and main results: Strong positive associations were found between the distance to the nearest main road and asthmatic bronchitis, hay fever, eczema, and sensitization. A distance-dependent relationship could be identified, with the highest odds ratios (ORs) for children living less than 50 m from busy streets. For PM2.5 absorbance, statistically significant effects were found for asthmatic bronchitis (OR, 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–2.37), hay fever (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.11–2.27), and allergic sensitization to pollen (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.20–1.64). NO2 exposure was associated with eczema, whereas no association was found for allergic sensitization.
Conclusions: This study provides strong evidence for increased risk of atopic diseases and allergic sensitization when children are exposed to ambient particulate matter.
A key study shows that traffic-related pollution greatly increases the risk of developing allergies in childhood.
The research is a key step in further understanding the link between traffic pollution and childhood allergies. Previous studies linking pollution to allergies have not proved a consistent link, while the latest study provides clear evidence of how pollution damges health.
The study finds that the risk of developing asthma, eczema, hay fever or other allergies is a staggering fifty percent higher for children living 50m from a busy road, compared to those living one kilometer away.
Joachim Heinrich, Ph.D., of the German Research Center for Environment and Health at the Institute of Epidemiology, led the study and has expressed concern at the findings.
"[Children] living very close to a major road are likely to be exposed not only to a higher amount of traffic-derived particles and gases but also to a more freshly emitted aerosols which may be more toxic” Mr Heinrich wrote in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
The researchers studied 2,860 children at four years old and 3,061 at the age of six to investigate allergic sensitization and atopic diseases. The distance to the nearest main road was used as a surrogate for traffic-related air pollutants. A busy road was considered to be one used by 10,000 cars a day.
Parents filled out questionnaires about their child's respiratory diagnoses and symptoms. Their children were assessed for asthma, wheezing, sneezing and eczema. At six years of age, the children were tested for food allergies. Air was tested for particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide near high-traffic areas once each season between March 1999 and July 2000.
This study found a clear difference in the children's allergic development with relation to their proximity to a busy road.
“Strong positive associations were found between the distance to the nearest main road and asthmatic bronchitis, hay fever, eczema, and sensitization.” Mr Heinrich wrote.
Another study from May 2008 backs up this study’s findings that pollution can cause asthma. Scientists have found that free radical pollution in the air could damage amino acids, the building blocks for proteins in the body, ultimately causing asthma. Research indicates that the nitrate radical reacts with amino acids to form compounds such as beta-nitrate esters, beta-carbonyl, and aromatic nitro-compounds. Researchers state that some of these compounds have been associated with increased immune response in some respiratory diseases, thereby worsening symptoms.
"Our results suggest that the nitrate radical could be a real culprit for respiratory diseases, yet until this study the nitrate radical has been previously entirely overlooked in regard to causes for diseases such as asthma," says researcher Ms Duanne Sigmund from the University of Melbourne with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Free Radical Chemistry and Biotechnology.
Meanwhile, another recent study has found that the risk of stroke may be increased even by low pollutant levels, and call for fine particulate matter standards to be reassessed
Researchers studied the effects of air pollution in a community in Texas where there is a large petroleum and petrochemical industry. Their findings support the hypotheses that recent exposure to fine particulate matter may increase the risk of ischemic cerebrovascular event. They also found experimental evidence that particulate air pollution is associated with acute artery vasoconstriction and with increases in plasma viscosity (thickening of the blood) which may enhance the potential for blood clots, although this requires further study.“While our observed association between PM2.5 and stroke/TIA risk requires further study in additional regions in the US with varying types of climates and possibly with alternative study designs, it does call into question current standards for fine particulate matter and whether these standards are sufficient to protect the public with regard to stroke, our nation’s third leading cause of death,” the authors note.
These latest studies indicate that air pollution is causing a lot more damage to our health than previously thought.
15-6-2008
By Kate Schneider
The study
Atopic Diseases, Allergic Sensitization, and Exposure to Traffic-related Air Pollution in Children March 12, 2008 American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 177. pp. 1331-1337, (2008).
Objectives: To assess the relationship between individual-based exposure to traffic-related air pollutants and allergic disease outcomes in a prospective birth cohort study during the first 6 years of life.
Objectives: To assess the relationship between individual-based exposure to traffic-related air pollutants and allergic disease outcomes in a prospective birth cohort study during the first 6 years of life.
Methods: We studied 2,860 children at the age of 4 years and 3,061 at the age of 6 years to investigate atopic diseases and allergic sensitization. Long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5), PM2.5 absorbance, and long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was assessed at residential addresses using geographic information systems based regression models and air pollution measurements. The distance to the nearest main road was used as a surrogate for traffic-related air pollutants.
Measurements and main results: Strong positive associations were found between the distance to the nearest main road and asthmatic bronchitis, hay fever, eczema, and sensitization. A distance-dependent relationship could be identified, with the highest odds ratios (ORs) for children living less than 50 m from busy streets. For PM2.5 absorbance, statistically significant effects were found for asthmatic bronchitis (OR, 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–2.37), hay fever (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.11–2.27), and allergic sensitization to pollen (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.20–1.64). NO2 exposure was associated with eczema, whereas no association was found for allergic sensitization.
Conclusions: This study provides strong evidence for increased risk of atopic diseases and allergic sensitization when children are exposed to ambient particulate matter.
posted by Kate Schneider @ 1:18 AM
2 Comments:
At 3:09 PM,
North Jersey Air Systems said…
We all know how every child of the modern age has asthma from pollution.The dust and the air pollution is tremendous and yet we do not reduce the industrial waste as smoke not stop the smokers.
At 7:56 PM,
Manhattan Air Conditioning Service said…
Sometimes I think the speed of life is much to do with the effect we have here.The faster we try to get the more we use technology and lose the good old habits of keeping the nature safe and peaceful.Ill health is increasing due to these.
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