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newsrel -- New study emphasizes importance of reducing traffic emissions to protect children living near roadways

Posted: 06 Apr 2015 11:27:20
Please consider the following news release from the California
Air Resources Board: http://bit.ly/1GEic7Y
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 6, 2015

NEWS RELEASE 15-16

CONTACT:

Melanie Turner
(916) 322-2990
melanie.turner@arb.ca.gov

New study emphasizes importance of reducing traffic emissions to
protect children living near roadways 

Stronger associations of asthma with air pollutants were found
among children living near high traffic

SACRAMENTO – New research supports a growing body of scientific
literature indicating that sensitive populations, including
children, certain ethnic groups and people of lower socioeconomic
status, are more vulnerable to the effects of high exposures to
traffic-related air pollution.

The University of California Irvine study, which examined the
effect of chronic exposure in asthmatic children living in homes
near traffic pollution, was led by Ralph J. Delfino, M.D., Ph.D,
at the Department of Epidemiology. The study was funded by the
Air Resources Board and benefited from funding by the South Coast
Air Quality Management District. 

Overall, acute worsening of asthma was associated with short-term
elevations of air pollution, particularly in asthmatic children
living near high traffic roadways. It is the first study to show
increased sensitivity to daily air pollution exposures in
asthmatic children living in homes in areas with higher levels of
air pollution from traffic, compared to asthmatic children
exposed to lower levels of traffic-related pollution. 

While numerous studies have linked fine particulate pollution
(known as PM2.5) exposures to respiratory illnesses, including
asthma, there is a lack of information about the health effects
of exposure to particulate pollution from different sources.
Assessing the health impacts from exposure to fine particle
pollution from a variety of important sources could help ARB to
better target sources of PM2.5 for future control measures. 

Researchers will discuss their findings during an ARB-hosted
research seminar and webcast open to the public at 1:30 p.m.
(PDT) April 7. For more information, visit:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/seminars/delfino3/delfino.htm. The
webinar will be archived on ARB’s website.

The Irvine study looked at possible relationships between
worsening asthma – specifically increased asthma-related
emergency room visits and hospital admissions – and exposure to
PM2.5, including primary (combustion emissions) and secondary
(photochemically produced) components of PM2.5, traffic
pollution, and ambient pollutant gases in asthmatic children in
Orange County. Research data included 11,390 emergency room
visits and hospital admissions made by 7,954 children ages 0 to
18 between 2000 and 2008. 

Key findings included:

*Associations of asthma with ambient pollution, including carbon
monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and PM2.5, were stronger among
children exposed to high traffic-related air pollution at their
homes, suggesting this is a vulnerable population. 

*Hospital encounters for asthma were linked to PM2.5 and ozone in
warm months, and with PM2.5, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide
and oxides of nitrogen in the cool season. 

*Hispanic and African American children, as well as those without
private insurance, tended to live in areas associated with higher
levels of traffic-related air pollution, further increasing their
vulnerability.

Results of the study, “Risk of Pediatric Asthma Morbidity from
Multi-Pollution Exposures,” provide additional evidence to
support ARB’s regulations to reduce traffic-related air
pollution. 


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Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.

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