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This page last reviewed July 3, 2009
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Children's Health Research |
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Background |
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The
Children's Health Research Page is designed to provide information on
research specific to children. Children may be more vulnerable to
harmful impacts from air pollutants than adults for several reasons.
They breathe in more air than adults, relative to their body size, and
have greater metabolic growth requirements. They can be more
susceptible to impacts from air pollution due to their developing
organs and immune system. In additions, their activities create both
health and exposure scenarios that are unique for children. The
increased vulnerability in children empasizes the need to sponsor and
conduct studies on the impact of air pollution on children's health.
The Research Division of the Air Resources Board (ARB) is involved in a
number of research studies focused on children's environmental health
and exposure. On this page we present the studies and programs that are
relevant to the children of California. Links to the web pages are listed below.
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Health Studies related to Children |
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The ARB
has a number of research studies related to children that are
both on-going and completed. The completed studies include a
long-term study on the effects of chronic air pollution exposures on the
health of children living in southern California the
Children's Health Study (CHS), a study of the progression of asthma in children in
Fresno the
Fresno Asthmatic Children's Environment Study (F.A.C.E.S.), an
epidemiological study on the effects of air pollution, particularly air
toxics, on children with asthma the Huntington Park
Asthma Study and refined estimates of residential and school
exposure to traffic-related pollutants which examined the effects of traffic
pollution on respiratory health outcomes among children the
East Bay Kids
Study.
The ongoing studies include studies which will examine the associations
between traffic and asthma symptoms, provide additional information related
to environmental justice issues, and help develop a model for future traffic
studies among children living in economically disadvantaged area the
Traffic
and Asthma in Economically Disadvantaged Neighborhoods Study , and a
study to examine air pollution exposure impacts on approximately 54,500
Californians, including 12,500 children and determine whether the
disproportionate burden of asthma or asthma-like symptoms among low
socio-economic status individuals is associated with greater pollutant
exposures, greater vulnerabilities, or both, compared to the general
population the Asthma Disparity among Californians Study.
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Exposure Studies related to Children |
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Studies
on children's exposure examine the Environmental Health Conditions in California's Portable
Classrooms the
Portable
Classroom Study and characterize the range of children's
exposures to diesel vehicle-related pollutants and other vehicle pollutants
during commutes to school by school buses the
Children's School Bus
Exposure Study.
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| Other Research Activities related to children |
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Other ARB
research activities related to children are changes to state law
(Senate Bill 25, Escutia 1999) which established specific requirements
to examine the impacts of air pollution on children's health
SB25 Children's Environmental Health Protection Program ,
health-based ambient air quality standards to identify outdoor
pollutant
levels that are considered safe for the public - including those
individuals most sensitive to the effects of air pollution, such as
children and the
elderly.
Review of California Ambient Air Quality Standards
and scientific support, through research efforts, for ARB's regulatory
and non-regulatory programs that aim to protect all California
residents, including those sub populations considered especially
vulnerable, from the adverse effects of air pollution
Vulnerable
Populations Research Program (VPRP).
The Air Quality and Land Use Handbook gives advice on how to avoid land uses ( Residences, Daycare, Playgrounds, Senior center, Medical
Facilities) within 500 feet of the freeway, urban roads with 100,000
vehicles/day, or rural roads with 50,000 vehicles/day which can affect
sensitive groups such as children and elderly .
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| Other links |
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Other issues related to children's health include effects on schools School Health and children's exposure to indoor air pollutants the Indoor Exposure Program and understanding the relationships between asthma and air pollution Asthma and Air Pollution.
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For more information about Children's Health Research, please e-mail Dr. Barbara Weller or call at (916)
324-4816
ARB Home Page
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