Air pollution reduces children's lung function

AORN Journal,  Nov, 2004  

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Children who live in polluted communities are five times more Likely to have clinically low lung function--less than 80% of the lung function expected for their age, according to a Sept 8, 2004, news release from the National Institutes of Health. Data from the Children's Health Study suggest that pollutants from vehicle emissions and fossil fuels hinder lung development and limit breathing capacity for a lifetime.

Pulmonary function data were collected from 1,759 children yearly as they progressed from fourth grade to 12th grade. The researchers also tracked levels of air pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide, acid vapor, elemental carbon, and particulate matter, in the 12 Southern California communities where the children lived. The study included some of the most polluted areas in the greater Los Angeles basin, as well as several less polluted communities outside the Los Angeles area.

During the eight-year period, researchers found that children living in the most polluted communities had significant reductions in their forced expiratory volume lie, the volume of air that can be exhaled after taking a deep breath) compared to children living in communities with cleaner air. In healthy people, lungs grow to full capacity during the teenage years, but typically stop growing at age 18. After that, lung capacity gradually declines. Adults begin to lose 1% of Lung function each year after age 20.

Researchers are unsure how air pollution may retard lung development. They believe chronic inflammation may play a role, with air pollutants irritating small airways on a daily basis. Scientists also suspect that air pollutants might dampen the growth of alveoli.

The research team will continue to follow the study participants into their early 20s, when their Lungs will be fully mature. They want to find out whether the participants will experience respiratory symptoms and whether those who moved away from a polluted environment will show improvement in lung function.

New Research Shows Air Pollution Can Reduce Children's Lung Function (news release, Bethesda, Md: National Institutes of Health, Sept 8, 2004) http://www.nih.gov /news/pr/sep2004/niehs-08a.htm (accessed 13 Sept 2004).

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