Pollution is a public health issue. The latest figures published on this subject are alarming. The number of deaths due to pollution continues to increase. 5.5 million people died in 2015 from indoor and outdoor air pollution.
This new study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care recalls that children who live in a polluted place have a high risk of living with respiratory diseases.
A reversible effect
Researchers at Boston University’s Respiratory Department in the United States studied how much pollution 614 children were exposed to during their first year of life. They measured the distance between their home and the first surrounding motorway axis and the density of fine and coarse particles in their environment.
Scientists have observed that children who live within 100 meters have difficulty breathing. In fact, their breathing capacities were 6% lower than those of children living 400 meters from a pollution zone.
On the other hand, this effect would be reversible. Indeed, the researchers found that children who were very exposed to pollution at the beginning of their life and who were then able to benefit from an improvement in air quality (thanks to a move, anti-pollution measures). pollution put in place by the local authorities), showed better respiratory capacities than the children who remained in a very polluted environment.
To confirm the harmful effects of pollution on children’s respiratory health, researchers will monitor and analyze the health of participants throughout their adolescence.
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