Asthma: The Leading Respiratory

Diseases

By: Nahom Kidanemariam

Respiratory Diseases New York City residents often

feel powerless as they are forced to live with Asthma

The triggers for Asthma often differ between individuals Common triggers include:

Pollens, molds Cigarette smoke, Sinus infection Heavy exercise

Asthma

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fredosan/554349368/Photo: Triggers, FredoAlvarez

Contributing Factor

There are various factors that lead to individuals developing asthma Prevalent factor is the quality of air

According to The Clean Air Act- air particle pollution (PM), ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides adversely affect the quality of air

New York City’s air quality and ozone are ranked moderate by EPA due to: Pollutants discharged from heavy traffic flow Reaction of other chemicals in presence of sunlight

Air Quality

Air Quality Index: New York CityAir Quality Index (AQI) Values Level of Health Concern Cautionary Statement

When the AQI is in this range Air quality conditions are: According to Air Quality level

0 to 50 Good

According to Air Quality LevelAir quality is considered statisfacy, and air pollution poses little or no risk

51 to 100 Moderate

Air quality is acceptable, however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution

101 to 150 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected

151 to 200 Unhealthy

Everyone may begin to experience health effects, members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects

201 to 300 Very Unhealthy

Health alert: everyone may experience more serious health effects

301 to 500 Hazardous

Health Warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected

Source EPA: http://www.dec.ny.gov/cfmx/extapps/aqi/aqi_info.cfm#AQI

Air Pollutants

Asthma is more acute in children residing in the Bronx due to the manufacturing land-use zoning in the Bronx

New York City level of bad ozone severely affected due to pollutants discharged from heavy traffic flow

Photo: Truck, Km6xo http://www.flickr.com/photos/jshappell121669462/sizes/o/

Photo: Factory, Erwyn van der Meerhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/erwyn/286313625/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kcjc/252015814/Photo: NYC Traffic, Kevin Coles

Contributing Factor

The relationship between asthma rates and race, and household income can be drawn

Children living in low income neighborhoods (4.8%) are more likely to be diagnosed then children of high income neighborhood (2.3%)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/culturesubculture/361433377/Photo: Low Income Housing: The Voice of Eye

The Home EnvironmentContributing Factor

Hispanic children (12%) and black children (10%) have a higher risk of being diagnosed with asthma then white children (4%)

The severity of asthma is especially high in children whom reside in Northeast Bronx, Fordham and Bronx Park, South Bronx, East and Central Harlem

The Home EnvironmentContributing Factor

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidmasters/3059005398/Photo: Children, David Masters

The Future Currently there are action

plans in place to help children and families deal with Asthma

Asthma Action plan would help families to be better equipped notice and avoid triggers and receive appropriate timely medication

The City of New York is planning to plant 1 million extra trees by 2017 to help reduce asthma rate

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kqedquest/1289134282/Photo: Action Plan, kqedquest

http://www.flickr.com/photos/havucnmycaml/159973520/Photo: Trees, outofmytree

Increased governmental oversight of the Bronx manufacturing zone will also help to improve Bronx’s Asthma rate

Local Law 77: Introduced to improve the Air Quality in New York City and combat the alarming asthma related hospitalization rate

The FutureGovernmental Oversight

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/181198017/Photo: NYC City Hall,wallyg

REFERENCE Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America “Asthma Overview, 1995 -2005: What

causes Asthma,” US EPA “Six common Air Pollutants, April 8, 2008: What are the six common

Air Pollutants,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, “NYC Vital Signs,

February 2008: Childhood Asthma in New York City” New York City Department of Healthy and Mental Hygiene

Renu Garg, Adam Karpati, Jessica Leighton, Mary Perrin and Mona Shah, “Asthma Faces, Second Edition, May 2003” The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

ScienceDaily, “Tree-lined streets mean lower rates of children Asthma: May 2 2008” Http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2008/04/080430201651.htm

New York State. “Air Quality Index Legend”. April 24, 2009. http://www.dec.ny.gov/cfmx/extapps/aqi/aqi_info.cfm#AQI Local Laws Of The City Of New York, “Local Law No. 77: 2003” http://www.nyccouncil.info/pdf_files/bills/law03077.pdf