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Traffic, susceptibility, and childhood asthma
Rob McConnell1, Kiros Berhane, Ling Yao
1Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA. rmcconne@usc.edu
Environmental Health Perspectives
|May 6, 2006
Summary
Living near major roads increases children's asthma risk, especially for long-term residents without a family history of asthma. This traffic-related exposure risk diminishes beyond 200 meters.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Traffic-related air pollution is a suspected contributor to childhood asthma.
- Previous studies show inconsistent results, with limited focus on susceptible subgroups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between traffic-related exposure and asthma/wheeze in young children.
- To identify potential susceptibility factors, such as parental asthma history and duration of residence.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated doctor-diagnosed asthma, prevalent asthma, and wheeze in 5-7 year olds via questionnaire.
- Assessed residential exposure by proximity to major roads and traffic pollution modeling.
- Examined parental asthma history, allergic symptoms, sex, and early-life residence as susceptibility factors.
Main Results:
- Residence within 75m of a major road was linked to increased odds of lifetime asthma, prevalent asthma, and wheeze.
- Long-term residents with no parental asthma history showed significantly higher risks.
- Increased risk diminished at 150-200m from roads; no increased risk found in children with parental asthma history or recent movers.
Conclusions:
- Proximity to major roads is associated with increased asthma risk in children.
- Specific subgroups, like long-term residents without a family history, are more susceptible.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind increased susceptibility in certain groups.
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