So… not at all?
The media release is below.
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Road traffic pollution as serious as passive smoke in the development of childhood asthma
New research conducted in 10 European cities has estimated that 14% of chronic childhood asthma is due to exposure to traffic pollution near busy roads.
The results are comparable to the burden associated with passive smoking: the World Health Organization estimates that between 4% and 18% of asthma cases in children are linked to passive smoking.
The findings, published online today (22 March 2013) ahead of print in the European Respiratory Journal, come as the European Commission has declared 2013 the ‘Year of Air’, which highlights the importance of clean air for all and focuses on actions to improve air quality across the EU.
Until now, traffic pollution was assumed to only trigger asthma symptoms and burden estimations did not account for chronic asthma caused by the specific range of toxicants that are found near heavily used roads along which many Europeans live.
The researchers used a method known as population-attributable fractions to assess the impact of near-road traffic pollution. This calculates the proportional reduction in disease or death that would occur if exposure to a risk factor were reduced to a lower level.
The new research used data from existing epidemiological studies which found that children exposed to higher levels of near-road traffic-related pollution also had higher rates of asthma, even when taking into account a range of other relevant factors such as passive smoking or socioeconomic factors.
The researchers aimed to take these findings further and estimate how many asthma cases could be avoided if exposure was removed.
The results found that 14% of asthma cases across the 10 cities could be attributed to near-road traffic pollution. The findings also take into account differences in the health of the overall population in different cities.
Lead author, Dr Laura Perez at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, said: “Air pollution has previously been seen to trigger symptoms but this is the first time we have estimated the percentage of cases that might not have occurred if Europeans had not been exposed to road traffic pollution. In light of all the existing epidemiological studies showing that road-traffic contributes to the onset of the disease in children, we must consider these results to improve policy making and urban planning.”
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No one knows what causes asthma. The CDC said so in front of a congressional committee last year.
Makes more sense and appears better reasoned and researched than other causes. Aggravant and instigator, though certainly not a sole cause. I’d have to see the study, but the 14% conclusion doesn’t trip any warning.
I’m also quite annoyed that they violated every rule in the “how to allow people to find your paper” book. Seriously, not even the title?
I doubt these folks have the precision they’re claiming. I’m also sure that nitrous oxide and soot are probably triggers for those who are vulnerable — although, like Frank, I’ve seen people with asthma in areas with very little exhaust and noted for their clean air.
It’s brutal but it’s honest to point out that measures to reduce road exhaust are meant to have health benefits but also have costs that may outweigh the health benefits. “If it saves one life…” and “for the children” are red flags. I think it was Instapundit who said “Laws named for victims are almost always bad ideas…”.
I know this doesn’t constitute a study, but as a cross country coach I amazingly had a lot of kids with asthma on my team. All of them lived in rural areas and none of their parents were smokers.
So, they have actual pollutant and “toxicant” levels versus asthma, decoupled from other causes?