Pollution\’s Impact on Child Health

In 1992, the Children\’s Health Study started a long term study on the impact of pollution on the health of children in Southern California. The premise was that children would be more seriously affected by pollution than adults due to their developing bodies, particularly respiratory systems and because they tend to breath faster and spend more time outdoors than the average adult. Twelve towns and communities were involved, which included 5,500 children with more than two-thirds of them being enrolled in the fourth grade at school.

The study collected health information on the children and also monitored their exposure to airborne pollution, including several other environmental factors, on an annual basis all the way through to graduation from high school.

The Final report of the Children\’s Health Study is the accumulation of more than ten years of data compilation on child health and environmental pollution factors. Specifically, community pollution measures were assessed and extensive pollution data was accumulated and cross referenced to specific health data of the children involved. Lung development, lung functionality, incidence of asthma and bronchitis as well as acute respiratory conditions was all tracked and monitored.

The health portion of the project has been concluded, however as a result of an additional funding award by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the program will continue for a further three years. This will allow monitoring work to continue in association with the Air Resources Board (ARB) in tandem with investigators and researchers from the Children\’s Health Study. The ARB is responsible for setting California\’s air quality standards for the protection of residents, especially those with sensitivities to airborne pollution, which makes the results of this study particularly significant as the results are fed directly into California\’s air quality standards.

The twelve townships and communities which were studied were specially selected to provide a cross section of the Southern Californian population and geographical distribution. One particular factor was the level of four major pollutant groups:

– Ozone
– Nitrogen Dioxide
– Acid Rain (Acid Vapor)
– Particulate Matter (which is breathed deeply into the lungs)

The concentration of these four pollutants was closely monitored in the twelve communities selected. In addition to generic sampling, the schools and homes of the study population were also monitored at various times. Pollution monitoring also coincided with health screening of the children who were tested each spring. In addition, an annual questionnaire was submitted for each child which dealt with respiratory issues and symptoms, the incidence of coughing, bronchitis, asthma and other respiratory ailments together with the levels of exercise, time spent outdoors and other factors, such as the incidence of smoking in the child\’s home, presence of mold or pets (all factors which are known to affect the rate of respiratory illness in children).

The bottom line from the study – air pollution causes harm and damage to children\’s lungs which last for life. In addition, children who were exposed to current pollution levels had reduced lung function and growth in higher pollution areas. Children in high ozone areas who were also physically active had a greater likelihood of contracting asthma than those children who did not engage in physical or sporting activity.

Author Bio: Stevan Harrison is a freelance writer, who has researched many topics including air purifiers and home purifiers by RabbitAir.

Category: Family Concerns
Keywords: family, pollution, eco-friendly, environment

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