Traffic-Related Air Pollution Can Trigger Asthma in Children Under 5

Shannon DeWitt

A study recently published in the Medical Journal of Australia shows evidence that children under the age of five are most at risk for asthma attacks from traffic-related air pollution. Gavin Pereira, an epidemiologist at the University of Western Australia and CRC for Asthma and Airways worked with others on a study to determine whether changes in air pollution and particulates increased the risk of hospital emergency department visits for asthma in children. The study consisted of 603 children and young adults aged 0-19 years between the years of 2002 and 2006. Results concluded that children aged 4 and younger with previous day exposure to the traffic-related pollutants (nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide) showed the most significant risk of having an asthma emergency visit to the ER. The odds for this age group increased by 70% for an inter-quartile increase in the previous day’s traffic-related air pollution. Further research is needed in this area to gather stronger evidence and increase knowledge in the field.
This study could be the basis for, or at least contribute to, the need for an awareness program to the public to inform about the dangers of traffic pollution. The youngest of our population is the most vulnerable and the most helpless in the situation and it is our responsibility as adults to take care of the younger generations. We now have some evidence showing that traffic pollution causes harm and with more research and spreading the knowledge to others we can try to get a large portion of the population in agreement that something needs to be done. A social movement fighting against traffic pollution and demanding more eco-friendly transportation at an affordable cost would undoubtedly follow once people realized the damage they were causing to babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Further research will hopefully be conducted using this study as a groundwork to build upon. Clearly, those who conducted this study are already aware of the dangers of traffic pollution, but it will take many more joining the consensus to really make a difference.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/205911.php