California Breathing

According to the Children’s Health Study, youth in the most polluted areas of Los Angeles are suffering a reduction in lung growth and capacity by an average of ten percent.

April/May 2001
 
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

The ten-year program, led by University of Southern California researchers, has been tracking the lung health of about 3,000 middle school children from 12 communities since 1993. Children are especially vulnerable to pollution damage because their lungs are still developing, because their airways are smaller and, ironically, because they spend so much time playing and exercising outside.

RELATED CONTENT

The main irritant in the most polluted areas seems to be the fine particles and acid vapors of nitrogen dioxide from motor vehicle exhaust, industrial plant emissions and the burning of fossil fuels. "Interestingly, the areas are all currently meeting EPA standards, but those standards may not be stringent enough," suggests Jim Gauderman, Ph.D, lead author of the study.

The long-term effects of pollution on lung capacity are uncertain, but those children with lowered lung function may grow up with weaker or smaller lungs; and may be more vulnerable to respiratory diseases like pneumonia or bronchitis in their 60s and 70s. People living in polluted areas across the country should try to limit their exposure to air pollution, and they should increase their intake of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, which protect against oxidative lung damage.

-Tanya Zimbardo

Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print

Comments

  • Kent Bergmann 10/28/2008 11:51:06 AM

    Of course this would have nothing to do with the chemicals we have all been being sprayed with like bugs for 10 years now.
    Los Angeles is an especially heavily targeted area for these "Chemtrail" operations. Just look up, then try to remember how the sky is supposed to look, then get angry.

    Gooood MORNin!

Add Your Comment

Please note that there is currently a problem with the comments function and your comment may or may not post successfully. We are working to correct the problem and thank you for your patience. 

You can use this comment form to enter your personal experiences or additional information and resources that you'd like to share with Mother Earth News readers. Your helpful advice will be posted on this page.  E-mail addresses are never displayed on comments, but they are required to confirm your comments.

Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

New to Mother Earth News?
Sign up to share comments.
Asterisks(*) indicate required fields.
Name*
Your name appears next to your comment.

E-mail Address*
This will be your login ID.

City State Zip Code

Password*


Confirm Password*

Comments
1500 character limit (Offensive materials and/or spam will be removed, no HTML allowed)
Please Note: Your sign-up must be verified via e-mail before your comment is published.
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Subscribe Today - Pay Now & Save 66% Off the Cover Price

First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

Lighten the Strain on the Earth and Your Budget

Mother Earth News is the guide to living — as one reader stated — “with little money and abundant happiness.” Every issue is an invaluable guide to leading a more sustainable life, covering ideas from fighting rising energy costs and protecting the environment to avoiding unnecessary spending on processed food. You’ll find tips for slashing heating bills; growing fresh, natural produce at home; and more. Mother Earth News helps you cut costs without sacrificing modern luxuries.

At Mother Earth News, we are dedicated to conserving our planet’s natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. That’s why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our Earth-Friendly automatic renewal savings plan. By paying with a credit card, you save an additional $4.95 and get 6 issues of Mother Earth News for only $10.00 (USA only).

You may also use the Bill Me option and pay $14.95 for 6 issues.