A new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has found that exposure to air pollution early in life may increase a child’s risk of developing asthma, with the strongest effects seen among socioeconomically disadvantaged and minority children.
The research, published in JAMA Network Open, examined asthma diagnoses and air pollution exposure among 5,279 racially diverse children. It found that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) or nitrogen dioxide (NO2) during the first three years of life increased the odds of developing asthma by early or middle childhood.
Importantly, this association was strongest for Black children, children whose mothers had less than a high school diploma, and those living in urban, under-resourced communities. This suggests that social factors, such as neighborhood quality, play a significant role in childhood asthma risk.
“The study underlines the need for stronger air pollution regulations, along with more investment in efforts to reduce health inequities and improve health outcomes among marginalized populations,” the researchers noted.
The study’s diverse sample allowed investigators to explore how geographic, racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic factors interact with air pollution exposure to influence asthma risk – an aspect often overlooked in previous research.
These findings highlight the complex interplay between environmental exposures and social determinants of health in shaping childhood asthma risk, particularly among vulnerable populations. They underscore the urgency of addressing both air quality and social inequities to improve children’s respiratory health.
See “Air pollution, socioeconomic disadvantages may increase children’s risk of asthma” (March 1, 2024)
