X-Ray Study of Effect of Air Pollution on Childrens Lungs
Researchers compared chest x-rays from children living in heavily polluted southwest Mexico City with children living in a cleaner air region in Tlaxcala, Mexico.
Ozone concentrations exceeded the U.S. NAAQS for an average of 4.7 hours per day, and PM2.5 concentrations were above the annual standard.
The x-rays of the Mexico City children showed an increased prevalence of bilateral hyperinflation and increased linear markings. CT scans of 25 Mexico City children with abnormal chest x-rays showed evidence of mild bronchial wall thickening, prominent central airways, air trapping, and pulmonary nodules in some of the children, findings suggestive of inflammatory processes. 7.8 percent of the Mexico City children had abnormal lung function tests.
Calderón-Garcidueňas L, Mora-Tiscareňo A, Fordham LA, Cheng CJ, Valencia-Salazar G, Flores-Gómez S, Solt AC, Gomez-del-Campo A, Jardón-Torres R, Henriquez-Roldán C, Hazucha MJ, Reed W. Lung Radiology and Pulmonary Function of Children Chronically Exposed to Air Pollution. Environ Health Perspect 2006;114:1432-1437.
NIEHS [www.ephonline.org] offers the full article online.
