Decreases in Air Pollution Shown to Improve Children’s Health
The reduction in sulfur dioxide and total suspended particulate levels in eastern Germany following reunification provides a natural experiment to assess associated improvements in human health.
This study sought to examine the effect of the decline in air pollution due to a reduction in coal combustion on elementary school children’s symptoms of bronchitis.
Researchers conclude, “the prevalence of nonasthmatic respiratory disorders may be reduced within a short time period by improving air quality. Our data on long-term exposures to air pollution indicate the reversibility of adverse health effects in children and add further evidence of a causal association with combustion-related air pollutants.”
Heinrich, J., Hoelscher, B., Frye, C., Meyer, I., Pitz, M., Cyrys, J., Wjst, M., Neas, L., and Wichmann, H.-E. Improved Air Quality in Reunified Germany and Decreases in Respiratory Symptoms. Epidemiology, Vol. 13, pp. 394-401, 2002.
Epidemiology [www.epidem.com] offers the abstract online.
