Child asthma hospitalizations drop as Calif.’s air improves

USC.EDU

PALO ALTO, California — Asthma-related child hospitalizations in California dropped by one-third, from 16 to 11 percent between 2001-2014, a period that also showed improvements in air quality, according the most recent data now available on Kidsdata.

During the same time period, the number of days with ozone levels that exceeded regulatory standards in California dropped by 60 percent and the levels of Particulate Matter Concentration fell by 23 percent.

Five counties, Napa, Ventura, Imperial, Yuba and Yolo, all saw drops of more than 50 percent in total asthma-related child hospitalizations.

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases among children in the U.S. and a leading cause of hospitalizations and absences from school. Environmental factors, including air pollutants, account for an estimated 30 percent of the total childhood asthma burden in California, according to a report by the Public Health Institute.

Children are more vulnerable to pollutants because they breathe more air relative to their size, compared with adults, and thus experience greater proportionate exposure to chemicals. In addition, children are at greater risk of harm from contaminants because their bodies and organs are not fully developed.

According to experts, policies that could influence asthma rates, treatment and health consequences include ensuring that all children have adequate health care and insurance coverage for prevention and treatment of asthma.

Other recommendations call for strengthening and enforcing laws and regulations limiting vehicle emissions, agricultural practices that generate dust and particulates, and industrial practices that generate air pollution.