Asthma in Children

• From 1980 – 1996, the prevalence of asthma among children increased by an average of 4.3% per year
• Asthma is the third-ranking cause of hospitalization among children under age 15
• Number of children who died of asthma increased threefold between 1979 and 1996
• Cost to treat asthma in children is $3.2 billion per year

 Source: Centers for Disease Control

Asthma Affects School Performance

• Schoolchildren are affected by unequal distribution of airborne toxins.
• The elevated risks for children of color may be affecting academic performance.
• Schools in areas of higher respiratory risk score lower in that state’s Academic Performance Index.

Source:  Building a Regional Voice for Environmental Justice; September 2004.

Asthma Linked to Air Pollution

• The EPA concluded that fine-particle pollution causes thousands of early deaths in adults and aggravates asthma in children*
• Asthmatics residing in the LA are “tended to have increased attacks on days with high oxidant and particulate pollution”**

Source: * Los Angeles Times (June 30, 2004)
Source: ** American Journal of Public Health (1980)

FAST FACTS:

1. Link between industry/air pollution/ asthma
2. Societal Costs of Asthma – In 2002:
   1. 14 million lost school days per year (ages 5-17)
   2. 11.8 million lost work days (age 18 and over)
   3. Lost productivity cost an estimated $4.6 billion
   4. Est. total cost of asthma: $14 billion

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Asthma Action America