Asthma plus traffic equals poor lung function

[Guest guest]

Sad, they didn't consider and missed an opportunity to include inside home or

work environments where people spend 90% of there time Or............... Maybe

they missed it intentionally?

Asthma plus traffic equals poor lung function

http://uk.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUKTRE53D6T120090414

Tue Apr 14, 2009 10:16pm BST

By Joene Hendry

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The results of a new study appear to expand the

link between traffic exposure and poor lung function among people with

asthma.

In a study of 176 adults with asthma or rhinitis, Dr. R. Balmes, of the

University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues found " the closer

adults with asthma live to roadways with heavy traffic...the lower their

lung function. "

" Living close to any road was associated with lower lung function, " Balmes

told Reuters Health.

Other studies have shown lung health effects from major roadways, Balmes and

colleagues note in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. " Ours is

the first to show evidence that living near any road can do so, " said

Balmes.

He and colleagues therefore advise asthma patients minimize their traffic

exposures.

The researchers assessed lung function and quality of life measures among

the 176 adults (71 percent female) who were about 43 years old, on average,

and undergoing treatment for chronic asthma with rhinitis (145 individuals)

or rhinitis alone (31 individuals). The groups had similar proportions of

current and former smokers.

Balmes' team found out how close each participant lived to the nearest

roadway using road-location data provided by geographic information systems.

They then compared lung function with the distance from a roadway of any

type.

Those living the closest to a roadway had the lowest lung function (forced

expiratory volume of 81.5 percent) while those living the farthest from a

roadway had the highest lung function (forced expiratory volume of 89.7

percent).

Excluding individuals with rhinitis alone, factoring in the effects of lower

socioeconomic status, smoking, and obesity, did not significantly alter the

findings. However, the researchers found no association between traffic

exposure and quality of life measures.

The investigators highlight the need for further confirmation of these

findings, as well as continued research into the mechanisms by which traffic

emissions impact lung function.