2021
Yes
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8274324/
Garcia, E
North America
Europe
Asia
Australia
South America
Africa
Observational
Students
Particulate Matter (PM)
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Ozone (O3)
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
Children
Lung function
Fev1
FVC
Air pollution
Wildfire
Gas stoves
Biomass
There is a large literature supporting the link between air
pollution exposure and adverse effects on children’ lung function
level and growth; however, many questions remain, some relating
to more nuanced understanding of air pollution effects and others
to new or less studied exposures. Studies of repeated measures of
pulmonary function in children as they grow—including into
adulthood—would provide significant opportunity to expand our
understanding of air pollution effects on children’s lung function.
Important areas needing further study include identification of
windows of increased susceptibility, whether early-life effects are
fixed or reversible, evaluating the long-term effects of repeated
wildfire events on child lung function, and the effect of air quality
interventions at the individual, household, and local levels on
child lung function and respiratory health. As additional studies
are conducted to improve scientific knowledge about the adverse
effects of air pollutants on children, simultaneous efforts at the
individual, local/city, state, and national levels can be made to
improve indoor and outdoor air quality, with assessment of the
short- and long-term benefits to children and their families.
Citizen and community engagement on the need for improved air
quality and environmental justice may inspire ground-breaking
policy changes with lasting health benefits. The rate of lung function decline and level of lung function in
later adulthood are strong predictors of overall morbidity and
mortality. If reduction of air pollution exposures improves lung
function growth, maximizes the peak lung function children attain
as young adults, and minimizes population decline in lung
function in adulthood, this will have significant long-term benefits
for the health of the next generation
pollution exposure and adverse effects on children’ lung function
level and growth; however, many questions remain, some relating
to more nuanced understanding of air pollution effects and others
to new or less studied exposures. Studies of repeated measures of
pulmonary function in children as they grow—including into
adulthood—would provide significant opportunity to expand our
understanding of air pollution effects on children’s lung function.
Important areas needing further study include identification of
windows of increased susceptibility, whether early-life effects are
fixed or reversible, evaluating the long-term effects of repeated
wildfire events on child lung function, and the effect of air quality
interventions at the individual, household, and local levels on
child lung function and respiratory health. As additional studies
are conducted to improve scientific knowledge about the adverse
effects of air pollutants on children, simultaneous efforts at the
individual, local/city, state, and national levels can be made to
improve indoor and outdoor air quality, with assessment of the
short- and long-term benefits to children and their families.
Citizen and community engagement on the need for improved air
quality and environmental justice may inspire ground-breaking
policy changes with lasting health benefits. The rate of lung function decline and level of lung function in
later adulthood are strong predictors of overall morbidity and
mortality. If reduction of air pollution exposures improves lung
function growth, maximizes the peak lung function children attain
as young adults, and minimizes population decline in lung
function in adulthood, this will have significant long-term benefits
for the health of the next generation