Indoor Air Quality Impacts Asthma

A recent Johns Hopkins report “In-Home Particle Concentrations and Childhood Asthma Morbidity” reveals that substandard indoor air quality has a substantial negative impact on asthma symptoms in children.  The study performed by Johns Hopkins evaluated the impact of particulate matter, one of the six dam¬aging air pollutants identified under the Clean Air Act of 1970, on inner city preschoolers in Baltimore.  

Outdoor air quality and its negative effects on human health have been studied extensively, but indoor air quality has not been given as much attention until recently. The U.S. EPA has, in fact, recently recognized the need for further research on the health effects of coarse particulate matter indoors because the potential damage to health is so significant.

Children in the Johns Hopkins study were evaluated at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months.  The level of particulate matter (both coarse and fine) in the home had a direct impact on the children’s asthma symptoms, including:  wheezing with chest tightness symptoms severe enough to slow a child’s activity, wheezing leading to limited speaking ability, and the need for medication and/or hospitalization.  This study reinforces similar findings from studies in California and Washington.  

Hopefully, this body of research will continue to grow so parents of children with asthma are able to take effective steps to mitigate asthma symptoms. Those in urban areas face the extra burden of outdoor air (containing traffic-related particulate matter) negatively impacting indoor air quality; but, some steps can be taken to improve indoor air quality, including eliminating tobacco smoke from the home or building, using proper ventilation, and air purification systems.