There is a direct correlation between air pollution and asthma, as the former can incite asthma attacks and make this condition worse. The environmental aspect of this issue pertains to the fact that major cities have worse air pollution than suburbs. Minorities tend to live in inner cities, and therefore are harmed by asthma more than other groups are.
Environmental Genetic Factors That Influence Health in Le Roy, New York, 2011, a mysterious medical
The relationship between an environmental agent and a health problem discussed within this document is the effect of air pollution on asthma. This effect is certainly a noxious one, as certain air pollutions have been known to cause asthma in those who did not previously have this condition, exacerbate it in those that did, and induce asthma attacks. In researching this relationship it is necessary to provide a brief overview of both asthma and air pollution. It is also prudent to discuss some of the more salient health disparities that emerge within a population that is related to aspects of genetics or environment.
Asthma is the constriction of the respiratory system with mucus. It is a serious cause of childhood morbidity (Islam et al., 2007, p. 957). Symptoms of asthma include difficulty breathing and coughing, as well as "a burning feeling in the lungs" (EPA, no date, p. 1). It can even be fatal. Although there are numerous factors that can account for this condition, one of the most prevalent is air pollution. Additionally, it is worth noting that while there are measures individuals can take to mitigate the effects of asthma, particularly as they pertain to air pollution, there is no cure for this chronic condition. In addition to air pollutants, asthma may also be caused and worsened by exposure to other harmful things such as mold, roach feces, and generally unsanitary conditions.
Air pollutants are contaminants in the air that cause a negative effect to both the air itself and to the people who breathe it. Despite the fact that there are numerous varieties of air pollutants, those that are most closely related to the causing of asthma include ozone, particularly that which arises from the exhaust from vehicles. Ozone is a crucial element of smog and is prevalent in major metropolitan areas including Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, and others (NRDC, 2005). Another eminent air pollutant is particle contamination, which includes vehicle exhaust, dust, smoke from fires, and other chemicals. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide are also known to contribute to air pollution, and to make asthma worse. The former comes from burning crude oil and coal,
The costs to society associated by asthma -- which is caused in no small measure by air pollutants, are considerable. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (2005), "30% of childhood asthma is due to environmental exposures, costing the nation $2 billion per year." There are also statistics that indicate that almost 2 million emergency room visits are attributed to asthma, and that workers require 12 million sick days and children need 14 million sick days from asthma each year (NRDC, 2005). Finally, it is worth noting that in regards to the relationship between these effects of asthma and air pollution" more than 159 million Americans -- over half the nation's population -- live in areas with bad air (NRDC, 2005).
The mortality rate for asthma is also a significant repercussion of this disease and its relationship with air pollutants. Asthma attacks reportedly result in the deaths of 5,000 individuals each year in the U.S. alone (NRDC, 2005). Those figures have slightly improved, as in 2009 it was reported that nearly 3,500 people died of asthma, which is roughly equal to nine people dying a day from this disease (CDC, 2010). Approximately 1 in every 12 adults has been diagnosed with asthma, while 1 in 11 children is known to have this disease (CDC, 2010).
In terms of health disparities per populations, it is a known fact that individuals living in major metropolises areas are more exposed to bad air quality, and to air pollution which causes asthma. The inner cities of such metropolises are largely populated by historic minority groups -- specifically African-Americans and Latinos. More affluent individuals conventionally commute to such metropolises to work, while living in suburbs. Therefore, one can infer that these environmental factors come into play when assessing the members of the population in America who are adversely affected by asthma due to exacerbating air pollution factors. African-Americans are at greatest risk for incurring maladies related to this condition. They are nearly three times as likely to die from asthma than any other ethnic group, a fact which may reflect the financial realities afflicting these people in which, "more than 1 in 4 black adults can't afford their asthma medicines" (CDC, 2010, p. 4). Other salient factors related to the incidence of African-Americans afflicted with asthma include the fact that children of this group are twice as likely as whites to have asthma, whereas African-American adults are hospitalized more for asthma than whites (CDC, 2010, p. 3).
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