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Air Pollution and Bronchitis

NEW RESEARCH HAS LINKED A COMMON AIR POLLUTANT TO BRONCHITIS IN TODDLERS.  IT’S A STUDY THAT WILL TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

WHEN U.S. AND CZECH RESEARCHERS COMBINED AIR QUALITY DATA WITH TODDLERS’ MEDICAL RECORDS, THEY FOUND A FIFTY-SIX PERCENT INCREASE IN BRONCHITIS CASES DURING TIMES WHEN THE AIR CONTAINED HIGH LEVELS OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS, OR P-A-H’s.

PAH’s ARE FOUND IN CIGARETTE SMOKE AND VEHICLE EXHAUST, AND ARE ALSO PRODUCED WHEN FOSSIL FUELS ARE BURNED.

RESEARCHER IRVA HERTZ-PICCIOTTO OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS SAYS THE STUDY UNDERSCORES THE NEED TO REDUCE AIR POLLUTION.

HERTZ-PICCIOTO: WE CAN PREVENT BRONCHITIS IN CHILDREN TO SOME EXTENT IF WE CAN REDUCE AIR POLLUTION EXPOSURES.

SHE SAYS OTHER PROACTIVE STEPS TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN INCLUDE KEEPING THEM AWAY FROM CIGARETTE SMOKE AND MAKING SURE YOUR FIREPLACE IS VENTED PROPERLY.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

Read more in Medical News Today.

Download the research from Environmental Health Perspectives.