Are you aware that several different researchers have discovered a correlation between respiratory illness, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and air pollution?  Did you know that scientists and health care professionals’ consistently rank indoor & outdoor air pollution among the top environmental health risks in the United States?

The August 2006 issue of the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics reports that researchers in California have recently found another link between air pollution and respiratory illness and death in infants.  Research showed that infants recently exposed to high levels of air pollution were likely to become ill or die and that they faced a somewhat higher likelihood of dying from SIDS.  Study co-author Michelle Wilhelm, an adjunct assistant professor of epidemiology at UCLA, reflected that "It just adds to the body of evidence showing that exposure to high (levels) of air pollution can lead to infant death."  The research also showed that pollutants inhaled by pregnant mothers can reach fetuses via the umbilical cord.

According to the Environmental Working Group, nearly one in every five SIDS cases in major metropolitan areas is associated with airborne particle pollution.  There is a substantial body of evidence showing that short-term increases of particulate air pollution, even at exposure levels below the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards, increase mortality and morbidity rates.  Data from historic air pollution episodes in London during the 1950’s and in Mexico City during the 1990’s led to acute increases in infant mortality.

Another study by scientists from the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Basel in Switzerland revealed that almost 3,000 infant deaths per year in the United States may be the result of microscopic airborne particles.  The study also concluded that as particulate matter in the air increased, infant mortality rates rose between ten to forty percent.  The researchers at UCLA warn parents to be careful about exposing infants and young children to both indoor and outdoor air pollution.  They caution that while we breathe in gallons of air each day, infants and children are particularly vulnerable to ambient air pollution because their lungs and immune systems are not fully developed and the lungs have a small capacity.

The link between air pollution and infant death has caught the attention of government officials.  Just recently, the District of Columbia joined thirteen other states in suing the EPA to strengthen the restrictions on the amount of pollution released into the air.  The states complain that the EPA has ignored scientific evidence and the advice of its own experts about illness and premature death caused by microscopic air pollution, also known as fine particulate matter.  The EPA’s own analysis revealed that even a relatively small reduction in yearly fine particulate matter emissions could reduce chronic respiratory illnesses and prevent thousands of deaths in the United States each year.

The National Institute of Child Health & Human Development research has found that more babies survive when the air around them is clean.  Although there is still some debate as to how much air pollution actually causes specific diseases in adults, scientists agree that people who live in places with polluted air are likely to have more health problems.

BELOW ARE QUOTES FROM THE EPA'S "AIR AWARE" VIDEO:

Particles can travel for thousands of miles, and they do!

The first studies of it's kind (The Children's Health Study) to show the onset of "New Asthma", pollution actually bringing on New Asthma. Children developing Asthma from air pollution.

Some of the dirtest air is found where you'd least expect it.

Our Natioal Parks have had over 300 Bad Air Days over the last 15 years! Totally unexceptable!!!  Visability on average in the summer is about 12 miles, it should be closer to 77, so we're a long ways to go to get to natural conditions. 30 different species of plants are showing visable damage in growth effects from ozone pollution.

On a death certificate it won't say cause of death: Air Pollution 

It'll say Heart attack, copd, lung disease, cancer etc..... Your never going to see, died of air pollution particles.

Air Pollution is all around us and it's everyone's responsability.

MORE LINKS TO NEWS AND RESEARCH

Children who live near a major highway are not only more likely to develop asthma or other respiratory diseases, but their lung development may also be stunted. Full Story
 

NYC RANKED AS ONE OF THE NATIONS WORST POLLUTED CITIES

EPA'S NEW OZONE LIMIT  TIME MAGAZINE

The Next 4 Links Are About China's Pollution Problems:

CHINA'S GRIME BELT AIR POLLUTION EXTREME video Where children stay grubby.

China Among worst Polluters video China is the 2nd worse polluter next to the U.S.

China Warns Of Five-Fold Increase In Air Pollution In 15 Years Full Story

Dirty China slideshow video

Resource Issue: Air Pollution Click Here

“The fetus can be affected by anything the mother eats, drinks, or breathes,” says Stephen King, Houston toxicologist, epidemiologist, and clinical ethicist. “The fetuses of pregnant women living near point sources (refineries, chemical plants, etc.) of air pollution are at a greater risk because they have daily exposure to these toxins in the ambient air,” he adds.  Full Story

Air Pollution Harmful To Babies, Fetuses, Studies Say  Full Story

Pollution Linked to Increased Risk of SIDS,

Respiratory Problems in Infants Full Story

Air Pollution and Children's Health Cal/EPA FACT SHEET Click Here

Here's a video presentation that explains it all in detail. It's an hour long but well worth watching every minute.  Summary and link below

WHAT EVERY MOM OR MOM TO BE NEEDS TO KNOW

RESEARCH LINKS

http://www.airnow.gov/ is a great place to find plenty of research, videos, etc..... and is also home of the AQI (Air Quality Index) which works like a weather forcast but for air quality. You can enter your zip code to get your own local forecast.

Be sure to watch the "Air Aware" video which was made by the EPA and the Weather Channel. (click on movies link under resources)

www.epa.gov is another great site

which includes everything!!!

What is air pollution? Click Here

Indoor & outdoor air pollution

Click Here

EPA CENTER FOR AMBIENT PARTICLE HEALTH EFFECTS AT HARVARD. publications Click Here

A Breath of Air: What the air is doing to our children Click Here

Here's a video presentation that explains it all in detail. It's an hour long but well worth watching every minute. click here