Nearly 2 million new cases of pediatric asthma every year may be caused by a traffic-related air pollutant—a problem particularly important in large cities around the world—according to a new study published by George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health researchers.
Nearly 2 million new cases of pediatric asthma every year may be caused by a traffic-related air pollutant—a problem particularly important in large cities around the world—according to a new study published by George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health researchers.
The study is the first to estimate the burden of pediatric asthma cases caused by this pollutant in more than 13,000 cities from Los Angeles to Mumbai.
“Our study found that nitrogen dioxide puts children at risk of developing asthma and the problem is especially acute in urban areas,” said Susan Anenberg, a co-lead author of the article and a professor of environmental and occupational health. “The findings suggest that clean air must be a critical part of strategies aimed at keeping children healthy.”
Anenberg and her colleagues studied ground concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, or NO2, a pollutant that comes from tailpipe vehicle emissions, power plants and industrial sites. They also tracked new cases of asthma that developed in children from 2000 until 2019. Asthma is a chronic illness that causes inflammation of the lung’s airways.
Read more at: George Washington University
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