ASTHMA&AIRPOLLUTION

STATEMENTOFTHEPROBLEM

Scientistshaveshownthatairpollutionfromcars,factoriesandpowerplantsisanimportantcause
ofasthmaattacksandmayincreasetheriskofdevelopingasthma.Morethan159millionAmericans
liveinareaswithbadair.Aresearchstudypublishedin2002estimatedthat30%ofchildhood
asthmaisduetoenvironmentalexposuresofalltypes,costingthenation$2billionperyear.
(NationalResourcesDefenseCouncilwebsite)

BACKGROUND

Thereareseveralairpollutantsthattriggerasthma:

Groundlevelozoneisatoxiccomponentofsmogthattriggersasthma.Italsoleadstothe
developmentofasthmainchildren.Ozoneisproducedatgroundlevelwhentailpipepollutionfrom
carsandtrucksreactswithoxygenandsunlight.Itisabigproblemincitieswithlotsoftraffic.
Ozoneisoftenworstonhotsummerdays,especiallyintheafternoonsorearlyevenings.

SulfurDioxideisproducedwhencoalandcrudeoilareburned.Onein5Americansliveswithin10
milesofacoalfiredpowerplant.Oilrefineriesandolderdieselenginescanalsoreleaselotsof
dioxideintotheair.

Particulatematterreferstoawiderangeofpollutantsdust,soot,flyash,dieselexhaustparticles,
woodsmokeandsulfateaerosolswhicharesuspendedastinyparticlesintheair.Someofthese
fineparticlescanlodgeinthelungsandtriggerasthmaattacks.Thenumberofhospitalizationsfor
asthmaincreaseswhenparticulatematterintheairrises.Particlepollutioncanbebadanytimeof
year,andespeciallywhentheweatheriscalmandairpollutionbuildsup.Itcanalsobehighnear
busyroadsatrushhour,nearfactoriesorwhensmokefromfireplaces,woodstovesorburning
vegetationisintheair.Schoolbusidlingcanalsobeasignificantcauseofexposuretoparticulate
matterforchildren.Particulatemattercangetinsidehomes,driftingthroughwindowsandeven
wallsiftheyarenottightlysealed.

Nitrogenoxideisagasemittedfromtailpipesandpowerplantsandcontributestotheformation
ofgroundlevelozoneandsmog.Italsoreactswithotherairpollutantstoformsmallparticlesthat
causebreathingproblems,especiallyinpeoplewithasthma.

Limitingyourexposuretoairpollutioncanbeanimportantpartofmanagingyourasthma.TheEPA
monitorsairqualityalloverthecountrythroughitsdailyAirQualityIndex.Atthewebsite
www.epa.gov/airnowyoucanenteryourzipcodeandstateandgettheratingoftheairinyourarea
daily.Theairqualityindexvaluesarebelow:

EPA'sAirQualityIndex

AirQualityIndex(AQI)Values LevelsofHealthConcern Colors

WhentheAQIisinthisrange: ...airqualityconditionsare: ...assymbolizedbythiscolor:

1 WarningSignsofAsthmaRevise:102908

0to50 Good Green

51to100 Moderate Yellow

151to200 UnhealthyforSensitiveGroups Orange

151to200 Unhealthy Red

201to300 VeryUnhealthy Purple

301to500 Hazardous Maroon

ChecktheEPAwebsiteoryourlocaltelevision,newspaperorradioweatherreportsfordailyupdatesonair
quality.Onbadairdays,signifiedbyorangeandredcolorsontheindex,childrenandpeoplewithrespiratory
diseasesshouldlimittheirtimeoutdoors.Purpleandmaroonindicateextremelevelsofpollutionevenhealthy
adultsshouldtrytostayinside.

ASSESSMENT
Noteanyoutdoorpollutionsourcesonthewaytotheparticipantshome.Isthehomeneara
freewayorbusyroad(within100yards)?Isitnearamanufacturingplantorindustrialarea?
Askifasthmasymptomsincreasemoreoftenwhentheparticipantisphysicallyactivewhentheair
ismorepolluted.

EDUCATIONALMESSAGES
Airpollutioncanbeanasthmatriggeranditcanworsenexistingasthma.

Planoutdooractivitieswhenpollutionlevelsarelow.Insummer,planmostvigorousactivityfor
morning.Trytoexerciseawayfrombusyroadsorindustrialareas.Exerciseindoorsonhotsmoggydays.

Changeyouractivitylevelwhentheairpollutionishighe.g.walkinsteadofjogorspendlesstimeon
theactivity(20minutesinsteadof30).

Airpollutioncanmakeyoumoresensitivetotriggerslikemoldanddustmites.Anincreasedsensitivity
toindoorasthmatriggerscouldbeduetooutdoorairpollution.

2 WarningSignsofAsthmaRevise:102908

ACTIONS

CHW ACTIONS PARTICIPANT ACTIONS

Notice any sources of outdoor pollution en route
to the house. Is it near a busy freeway or
roadway? Is it near a factory or industrial area?
Comment on these observations as you do the
home environmental check. Advise avoiding
vigorous exercise near these sites.
Advise participant about ways to decrease risk of
asthma when air pollution is high.
Work with parent to inform school if children are
exposed to significant school bus idling.
Monitor/decrease outdoor activity when air
pollution level is high.
Keep your rescuer on hand when you are active
outdoors.
Check air quality index if you are concerned
about the pollution level
Check with your health care provider if you have
more symptoms when the air pollution is high.

Provide website resource for determining air

quality index

SUPPLIES

EDUCATIONHANDOUTS

REFERRALS

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