GGR353H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Acute Bronchitis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Diesel Exhaust
Document Summary
Week 6 reading- air pollution and children"s health. Children"s exposure to air pollution is a special concern because their immune system and lungs are not fully developed raising the possibility of different responses than seen in adults. Air pollution, particularly traffic related pollution, is associated with infant mortality and the development of asthma and atopy. Other studies have associated particulate air pollution with acute bronchitis in children. Children have been shown to be at particular risk for other effects of air pollution, as detailed below. The lung is not well formed at birth, and development of full functionality does not occur until approximately 6 years of age. Children also have a larger lung surface area per kg of body weight than adults. There is a critical exposure time when air pollution may have lasting effects on respiratory health. Immune system, immature at birth, is also beginning to develop.
