Children's Health Study
A team at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, has been conducting the Children's Health Study (CHS) since the early 1990's. The study's research findings on long-term effects of air pollution on children's lungs, coupled with USC's public outreach efforts, have led to broader public awareness and public health actions to protect children's health.
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The CHS involves 11,000 children and is aimed at investigating the causes of childhood respiratory diseases, emphasizing the long-term health effects of air pollution. Key research findings show that:
- Current levels of air pollution have chronic, adverse effects on lung growth leading to clinically significant deficits in 18-year-old children.
- Air pollution affects both new onset asthma and asthma exacerbations.
- Living in close proximity to busy roads is associated with increased risks for prevalent asthma.
- Residential traffic exposure is linked to deficits in lung function growth and increased school absences.
- Differences in genetic makeup affect these outcomes.
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The CHS findings provide scientific support for aggressive efforts to achieve clean air. Study results are widely publicized so that the public understands their significance, and public policy decisions take the results into consideration. The CHS results have led to changes in state and federal regulatory standards for particulate matter, a demand for clean air action programs at ports in California , and a greater awareness of “health” as a concern in the transportation planning process. |
Visit Press Stories for recent research results from the Children's Health Study. |
Links:
More information about the Children's Health Study.
Visit Press Stories for recent research results from the Children's Health Study.
View the Breath of Air video on the USC YouTube channel
Order a free copy of the Breath of Air video from the Air Resources Board
The video shows the work of USC scientists on the health effects of air pollution, and also the community perspective on air pollution in the Los Angeles area. |
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