United States: Health experts indicate ozone air pollution contributes to asthma development among preschoolers along with kindergarteners, according to recent findings.
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Small ozone smog increases during the first two years of life result in higher asthma and wheezing risks for children aged 4 to 6 years of age, according to findings published in JAMA Network Open on April 2.
Studies demonstrated that ozone did not enhance asthma development between ages 8 and 9.
According to the lead researcher Logan Dearborn, a doctoral student with the University of Washington Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, “It’s something we spent a long time trying to consider, and I don’t know if we ever came up with a satisfying answer,” US News reported.
“But these findings are important,” as Dearborn mentioned.
“Even if we only see the effects early in life, there are still all kinds of associated health care costs and stresses for families,” the expert added.
The research reviewed health data from 1,100 children who participated in a national study regarding environmental impacts on child wellness.
The research involved six different cities in which the children lived, such as Minneapolis and San Francisco, together with Seattle and Memphis, Tennessee; Rochester, New York; and Yakima, Washington.
Research analysts linked information on asthma and wheezing symptoms from mothers with government-measured ozone pollution statistics for specific areas, US News reported.
What are the experts stating?
Research papers published before this study demonstrate that fine particulates and nitrogen dioxide in air pollution lead to childhood asthma development, according to background notes from the authors.
Scientists have noted that ozone exposure is one of the main air pollutants that exceeds US air quality requirements, but asthma reactions to this particular pollutant remained uncertain.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that ozone pollution develops from sun-exposed emissions produced by automobiles together with power generators and industrial factories.