Childhood exposure to air pollution linked to risk of bronchitis later in life: study

Air pollution is linked to health problems such as stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, pneumonia and cataracts. A modern study suggests that exposure to air pollution in childhood increases the risk of developing bronchitis later in life.

Researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC found that childhood exposure to air pollution is linked to childhood lung problems, which in turn are consistently linked to respiratory problems in adulthood. The study’s findings were published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Clinical Care Medicine.

“We would expect these observed effects on respiratory health in childhood to explain the association between childhood air pollution exposure and adult respiratory health. Our results suggest that childhood air pollution exposure has more subtle effects on our respiratory system that continue to affect us in adulthood,” said corresponding author Erika Garcia in Press Release.

The researchers found that the association between childhood air pollution exposure and adult bronchitis symptoms persisted even after accounting for early-life asthma or bronchitis symptoms. The findings were from a comprehensive study that followed cohorts of Southern California residents from school age through decades and into adulthood.

The study involved 1,308 participants from the Children’s Health Study. At an average age of 32, during the adult assessment, researchers asked about recent bronchitis symptoms, such as bronchitis, chronic cough, or phlegm congestion not related to a frosty. About 25% of participants reported having these symptoms in the past year.

They found that bronchitis symptoms were associated with exposure to two types of pollutants from birth to age 17. One type includes fine particles from sources such as dust, pollen, ash from forest fires, industrial emissions and car exhaust. The second pollutant, nitrogen dioxide, is produced by vehicles, planes, ships and combustion in power plants and is known to damage lung function.

Scientists note that children are particularly susceptible to the effects of air pollution because their respiratory and immune systems are still developing, and because they breathe more air per body weight than adults.

“This study underscores the importance of reducing air pollution, especially exposure during the critical period of childhood. Because as individuals we can only do so much to control our exposure, the need to protect children from the negative effects of air pollution is better addressed at the policy level,” Garcia said.