Study Findings

Days with higher air pollution levels increase short-term respiratory infections, and these infections lead to more school absences.
Children who play several outdoor sports and live in high ozone communities are more likely to develop asthma.
Children living near busy roads have increased risk for asthma.
Children who move to communities with lower levels of air pollution have improved lung function growth rates.
Children with asthma who were exposed to higher levels of air pollutants were more likely to develop bronchitis symptoms.
Living in communities with higher pollution levels (pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, acid vapor, and elemental carbon, which all come from vehicle emissions and fossil fuel combustion) causes measurable lung damage (reduced growth and poorer lung function).
Children’s lungs have improved over the past 20 years as pollution levels in the Los Angeles Basin has declined.
Bronchitic symptoms decline as pollution levels drop in Los Angeles region over the past 20 years.

For more study information click here (Southern California Environmental Health Sciences Center).

For more CHS major results click here (CA Air Resources Board).

For current air quality information click here (Air Quality Management District).