Air pollution hurts child breathing

[The Straight Story]

Air pollution hurts child breathing

NEW YORK, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Infant exposure to metals from residential heating oil combustion and diesel emissions are linked to respiratory symptoms, U.S. researchers found.

Researchers at the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health compared pollutant levels with respiratory symptoms of children between birth and age 2 living in Northern Manhattan and in the South Bronx.

Senior investigator Dr. Rachel L. Miller of New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center and co-deputy director of at the Mailman School of Public Health and colleagues found the airborne metals nickel and vanadium, were risk factors for wheezing in young children.

Residual oil combustion for heating is a major source in New York City of these metals. Elemental carbon, in diesel exhaust, was associated with increased frequency of coughing only during cold and flu season -- September through April, the researchers said.

"It appears that exposure to ambient metals and diesel-exhaust particles in our air may lead to several respiratory symptoms for young children living in urban areas," Miller said in a statement.

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/11/30/Air-pollution-hurts-child-breathing/UPI-76131259604264/

But hey, at least those kids don't get second hand smoke in bars anymore ;)

[bobbolink]

1. It hurts adults, too, including me, but that is ignored and brushed aside.

It doesn't serve corporate interest to reduce air pollution, so to hell with people like me who suffer because of it.

[jaksavage]

2. duh! nt

[sui generis]

3. funny the anti-smokers who drive their Escalades to their

non-smoking restaurants and bars while pontificating about second hand smoke are just full of shit as they come.

:hide:

:evilgrin:

[The Straight Story]

4. Yes indeed

But when consenting adults want to come together and smoke in an confined space they step in to stop them, cause when it comes to smoking it is your body, not your choice :)

[hedgehog]

5. At least part of the reason for no-smoking rules in bars and restaurants

is to protect the employees who are in the environment 8 hours/day, 40 hrs/week.

Besides, pollution from one source is hardly a good reason to allow pollution from another source. the goal is to eliminate all pollution.