[ADEQ Media] Particulate Air Pollution Boosts Risk of Asthma Attacks in Children, ADEQ Study Shows

[media@lists.azdeq.gov]

Particulate Air Pollution Boosts Risk of Asthma Attacks in Children,
ADEQ Study Shows

PHOENIX  (Dec. 30, 2008) - A study released today by the Arizona
Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) shows that asthma attacks and
other asthma symptoms in children aged 5-18 increased by nearly 14
percent on days with elevated levels of particulate matter pollution,
called PM10, during 2005-2006. 

ADEQ contracted with Arizona State University to conduct the study,
which was funded by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, in conjunction with the Arizona Department of Health Services.

The study analyzed over 5,000 asthma "events" occurring among children
living in a selected study area between Jan. 1, 2005, and Sept. 30,
2006, by comparing hospital and emergency-room reports with air quality
data during this time period. The study area covered 168 census tracks
in a geographic area in metropolitan Phoenix generally bounded by Dunlap
Road to the north, 52nd Street to the east, Elliot Road to the south and
75th Avenue to the west.  Seventy-five percent (75 percent) of all
asthma incidences among children reported for all of Maricopa County in
2005-2006 occurred in this study area.

"The retrospective analysis of ambient PM10 concentrations and asthma
incidence data showed a positive correlation between high PM10 (i.e.,
poor air quality) and high asthma incidence in the metropolitan Phoenix
area," the report states. 

 "No one really knows what causes asthma in children, but we do know
that air pollution can trigger asthma attacks and increase the risk of
respiratory problems in children," ADEQ Director Steve Owens said. "This
study shows the connection between poor air quality and asthma attacks
in children and underscores the importance of taking action to reduce
particulate pollution in the Valley." 

The Phoenix metropolitan area is currently in violation of the federal
health-based standard for PM10 and was required to submit a plan to EPA
for reducing PM10 levels in the Valley by 5 percent each year until the
standard is met.  PM10 is particulate matter 10 microns or smaller in
diameter.  A human hair is roughly 70 microns in diameter. The sources
of PM10 pollution in the Phoenix area include dust from unpaved roads
and vacant lots, track out onto paved roads, off-highway vehicles, leaf
blowers, disturbed areas on mining sites, construction sites, windblown
dust from agricultural fields, smoke and soot from fireplaces and
outdoor burning and diesel exhaust and other vehicle emissions.
 
ADEQ received funding in 2006 from the EPA's Office of Environmental
Information to conduct the study using the National Environmental
Information Exchange Network to exchange, compare and analyze
complicated data on childhood asthma maintained by ADHS and health care
institutions with air quality data collected by ADEQ.    

-30-

News media interested in additional information on this or any other
topic concerning the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality should
contact the Office of Communications at (602) 771-2215 or via email at
communications@azdeq.gov.

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