Bay Soundings 2004
Headlines across the country blared dire warnings when a new study showed that air pollution – even at levels that meet federal standards — causes permanent damage to children’s lungs and may result in complications later in life.
But what does a Southern California study mean in Tampa Bay?
“Our pollution levels for nitrogen oxides are below the national standards, but we still should be concerned,” said Connie Mizak, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of South Florida’s College of Public Health.
The study, detailed in the September 2004 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, found a negative correlation between air pollution and lung capacity in children, Mizak explained. In other words, as air pollution levels increase, permanent lung capacity decreases.
The study measured lung capacity in healthy children over an eight-year period, from fourth grade to high school graduation. Researchers expected lung capacity to increase as the children grew. What they found was that lung capacity grew less than expected in areas with high levels of air pollution, with effects similar to those reported for children exposed to maternal smoking.
“They describe the lung damage observed in Southern California as potentially increasing the risk for life-threatening illnesses in adulthood,” Mizak notes. “That isn’t likely to be the case here, but even with relatively good air quality, there still may be some effects.”
The challenge in Tampa Bay, she adds, will be controlling increased contaminant levels as the region’s population continues to grow. “As more and more people move into the area, traffic emissions will likely increase due to urban sprawl. That’s somewhat balanced by the fact that we’re driving cleaner cars, but I still think we have to work diligently to encourage the public to adopt responsible lifestyle behaviors such as carpooling. Reducing the number of cars on the road will help reduce automobile emissions and prevent these types of damaging health effects.”