Air Purifier News: Studies Show Pollution Leads to Bronchitis in Children

While numerous studies have examined the effects of air pollution on the adult population, little attention has been paid to the issue of air pollution and its relationship to the health of infants and young children. Irva Hertz-Picciotto, an environmental epidemiologist at the University of California, Davis, led the Czech Early Childhood Health Study, a study which analyzed the relationship between air pollution and acute bronchitis in children. Over the course of four years, Hertz-Picciotto gathered data from 1,133 children from birth to 4.5 years of age born in two districts of the Czech Republic between 1994 -1998. One of the districts, Teplice, was known for its high pollution levels, while the other district, Prachatice, had significantly lower levels.

Hertz-Picciotto's studies found that exposure to air pollution components called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, was directly linked to acute bronchitis in pre-school aged children. Common PAHs came in the form of carbon-containing fuels that originated from coal burning, vehicle exhaust, wood-burning stoves, tobacco smoke, and grilling food. Although a number of studies have examined the effects of particulates such as dust, ozone, and sulfur dioxide, very little research has been done on PAHs.

The PAH levels identified in the above two areas in the Czech Republic were found to be comparable to those found in the United States, and some rural areas in the United States have even seen higher levels of PAHs due to the use of wood-burning stoves in the winter.

For four years, Hertz-Piccioto and her colleagues collected standardized medical information from parents about work history, lifestyle, demographics, and other medical histories, and follow-up information was collected once for each child at the age of 3 for those born between 1994 and 1996, and at age 4.5 for those born in 1997 or 1998. In addition, Hertz-Picciotto's research team collected air quality samples on particulate and PAH pollution in the above two regions.

In discussing the results of her study, the UC Davis researcher stated the following:

"We found that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have a significant effect on the lung health of children in the study, in particular in increases in acute bronchitis diagnoses for toddlers and preschoolers. We saw the biggest impact on children old enough to play outside, while infants were affected but not quite as much."

Unfortunately, bronchitis occurs when there is an inflammation of the bronchi in the lungs. Symptoms can include an expectorating cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing, along with occasional chest pains, fever, and fatigue. Because of the direct correlation between PAHs and bronchitis in children, Hertz-Piccioto has urged government agencies to address the issues of air pollution, and has stated:

"Air quality negatively impacts children's health and has a definite economic impact on health systems and families."