Asthma
New York City has some of the country’s highest asthma-related hospitalization and mortality rates among children and young adults — with African American and Latino patients accounting for more than 80 percent of the cases. The rates of asthma morbidity and mortality in Northern Manhattan and the South Bronx are the highest in New York City and among the highest nationwide. These low-income neighborhoods bear a disproportionate share of pollution sources such as diesel bus depots, major commercial roadways, and deteriorated public housing that is often infested with cockroaches and mice. Childhood asthma in these communities is a serious disease that accounts for a significant proportion of emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and deaths.
CCCEH scientists are following a group of more than 700 children in New York City from before birth through adolescence. This research is helping to determine why children in urban areas suffer higher rates of asthma than non-urban children do, and how environmental toxicants contribute to the prevalence of this disease. Ultimately, we expect that the results of our research will help prevent asthma in children everywhere.
Conducting breathing test.
What We Know About Asthma
Following are published key findings from CCCEH research of more than 700 pregnant women and their babies living in Northern Manhattan and the South Bronx.
- More than half the babies in the study have been born with an immune response to cockroach proteins that may increase the risk of asthma in certain children (Miller et al., 2001).
- Pest infestation, allergen levels, and pesticide use are higher among women and babies living in the most deteriorated housing (Rauh et al., 2002).
- Combined prenatal exposure to airborne PAHs and postnatal secondhand smoke results in the increased likelihood of respiratory symptoms at ages 1 and 2 years that may be associated with increased children’s asthma risk (Miller et al., 2004).
- In the Center’s evaluation of the New York City Housing Authority’s intervention to reduce toxic pesticide use in public housing, high cockroach and mouse allergen levels were significantly associated with asthma prevalence among children and adults (Chew et al., 2006).
What You Can Do
Research shows that babies’ and children’s risk of developing asthma is increased by exposure during pregnancy and childhood to a lot of the following; it is important to reduce exposure to these harmful pollutants as much as possible:
- pests in the home
- air pollution (PAHs) from fuel burning — outside the home as well as inside
- secondhand smoke
Reduce pest allergens at home
Integrated Pest Management is a set of safe, low-toxic methods for keeping your home clean of pests such as cockroaches and rodents. Clearing clutter, eating in the kitchen only, and using low-toxic pest control products can do a lot to minimize pests in the home and keep you and your children safe from toxic pesticides — especially aerosols, which can trigger attacks in family members with asthma. See lots of tips about using IPM at home.
Don’t smoke at home or in the car and don’t allow anyone else to either
Research shows that exposure to secondhand smoke, combined with levels of air pollution commonly found in Northern Manhattan and the South Bronx, increases children’s risk of developing asthma. If you or someone in your home must smoke, do it outdoors where smoke disperses. At home or in the car, smoke gets trapped and remains in the air and upholstery for a long time.
Join a clean air campaign in your community
Several community groups in Northern Manhattan and the South Bronx are working to improve air quality. They are successfully getting new laws passed that reduce bus and truck traffic and require buses and trucks to use new technologies that lower diesel emissions. These organizations are also working hard to prevent new sources of pollution from being put in their neighborhoods, and ensuring that existing polluters — such as power plants and waste transfer stations — are doing everything possible to minimize pollution. Many groups are planting trees that absorb bad chemicals and put more oxygen in our air, and building parks to increase green space. More community clean air campaign successes.
If you or your child already has asthma
Be certain to visit your doctor regularly and have a good self-care plan to follow at home. Many asthma attacks can be prevented if you and your doctor can identify triggers and ways to avoid those triggers. Trips to the emergency room can also be prevented if good self-care practices are in place. If you or someone in your family has asthma and you don’t already have an asthma care plan, use this Asthma Action Plan from Kids Health; print out the form and take it to your doctor to fill out together.
Source: Kids Health