Of Air and Asthma

July 31, 2002

Of Air and Asthma

Study looks at impact of pollution on asthmatic children

SUNDAY, July 28 (HealthScoutNews) -- The impact of poor air quality on the

health of children with asthma is the subject of a three-year study by

pediatric researchers at the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in

Denver.

" Our goal is to better understand the role air pollution plays in the health

of children with asthma and to see if we can protect them against potential

harm caused by small particles in the air, " says researcher Dr. Erwin

Gelfand, chairman of the pediatrics department.

The researchers also plan to determine whether there are health benefits for

children with asthma if the air in their homes is cleaned using air

purifiers or (high-efficiency-particle-arresting) HEPA-filter vacuuming.

Gelfand and his colleague, Dr. Rabinovitch, will examine the effects

that airborne particles less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) in diameter have on

lung function in children with moderate to severe asthma.

These PM2.5 particles come from combustible sources such as tobacco smoke

and vehicle exhaust and can end up in the lung's small airways.

Student volunteers will carry portable monitoring devices that measure PM2.5

particles in the air the students breathe while they're outside, at home and

at school. Air pollution monitors will be placed in their homes. Half of the

homes will be provided with air purifiers and those families will also be

asked to use a HEPA-filter vacuum.

The researchers plan to do daily measurements of the students' lung

function. At the end of three years, they'll analyze the data to determine

if cleaning the air had an effect on the children's asthma.

Asthma affects more than 6 million American children and is the most common

chronic childhood disease. Asthma rates have more than doubled in the last

10 years, especially in cities.

More information

To learn more about asthma and its relationship to the air we breathe, visit

the Environmental Protection Agency.

SOURCE: National Jewish Medical and Research Center, news release, July 19,

2002

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