[ad_1]
Susan C. Anenberg
At least 14 million asthma-related emergencies worldwide are caused by air pollution, according to a study published in the United States. Environmental Health Outlook. The researchers wrote that much of the pollution is generated by humans.
Previous research has shown a link between exposure to air pollution and diabetes, faster biological aging and respiratory infections.
"Our study found that the impacts of air pollution on asthma visits to emergency services are the largest in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific, most of they occurring in India and China ", Susan C. Anenberg, PhD, MS, Associate Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health at the Faculty of Public Health of the Milken Institute of George Washington University, Infectious Diseases in Children. "There is also growing evidence that air pollution, particularly nitrogen dioxide, is associated with the recent onset of asthma in children."
Anenberg said that she and her colleagues will soon evaluate how road-bound nitrogen dioxide contributes to newly diagnosed asthma in children around the world.
For this study, the researchers estimated the impact of multiple forms of air pollution, including ozone, fine particles (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide using epidemiological data on health and population, the prevalence and baseline incidence of asthma and the concentration of pollutants.
Figure 1. Fraction of total national asthma visits to emergencies attributable to ozone. Click to enlarge.
Source: Susan C. Anenberg / GW Milken Institute School of Public Health
Anenberg and colleagues estimated that between 9 and 23 million asthma – related emergency visits were caused by exposure to ozone and between 5 and 10 million attributable to asthma. to particles.2.5 exposure. Ozone exposure accounted for between 8% and 20% of global visits to asthma-related EDs, and PM2.5 caused 4% to 9% of these visits.
According to the researchers, emissions due to human activity resulted in approximately 37% of asthma-related asthma-related emergency visits and 73% of visits to the US. ED related to asthma caused by particles2.5. Other natural pollutants accounted for the rest of the emergency room visits. Although vegetation, lightning and dust can increase levels of air pollution and be natural, researchers have written that human activity can increase the rate at which these factors contribute to pollution. "Pediatricians and doctors can promote policies that reduce the risk factors that contribute the most to the burden of asthma," said Anenberg. "The results of our study indicate that air pollution control policies could significantly reduce the number of people who must travel to the SU for asthma attacks each year." – by Katherine Bortz
Disclosures: The authors do not report any relevant financial information.
[ad_2]
Source link
