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Asthma and the motorways--one District's experience
Journal of Public Health Medicine
|March 1, 1995
Summary
This study found no increased prevalence of asthma symptoms in children living near motorways in East Surrey. The research suggests current motorway configurations are not linked to higher rates of childhood asthma.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Respiratory Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Concerns arose regarding M25 motorway expansion in East Surrey and potential links to increased childhood asthma.
- This study investigated the prevalence of asthma symptoms in schoolchildren and their association with proximity to the motorway.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess asthma symptom prevalence in East Surrey schoolchildren.
- To determine if proximity to motorways correlates with increased asthma-related respiratory symptoms.
Main Methods:
- A survey of 2387 children aged 13-14 from 17 East Surrey schools was conducted.
- The International Survey on Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) core questionnaire was utilized.
- Children were grouped by residence (urban/rural wards) and proximity to the motorway.
Main Results:
- Reported asthma symptoms ranged from sleep disturbance (2.2%) to lifetime wheezing episodes (40%); 16% had a prior asthma diagnosis.
- Overall symptom prevalence was comparable to other studies.
- A statistically significant decrease in asthma symptoms was observed in areas closer to motorways, not attributable to rurality.
Conclusions:
- The study indicates that East Surrey's motorways, as currently configured, do not contribute to a higher prevalence of asthma-related respiratory symptoms.
- Findings challenge the initial concerns linking motorway traffic to increased childhood asthma in the region.