Air Pollution 101: Here’s Your Syllabus

Due to the incredible media exposure this week to our emergency pollution, I’ve been inundated with questions from both patients and international media about pollution. There’s still quite a lot of misinformation about pollution, so here are what I consider to be the most high yield, evidence-based and readable articles. I think reporters, scholars, parents — anyone concerned about air pollution — may find a few articles to be useful. So grab a comfy chair, smoke your favorite cigar, sit back and have a good read:

General Topics:

Masks and Pollution:

Children and Pollution:

  • Ambient Air Pollution: Health Hazards to Children – Pediatrics — This is an essential first read for any parents. It’s from the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Environmental Health. A bit dated, from 2004-5
  • USC Children’s Health Study — here’s the collection of articles from what I consider the most comprehensive data set, following thousands of kids in smoggy LA. Includes this article:
  • The Effect of Air pollution on Lung Development from 10 to 18 Years of Age – A prospective study showing decreased lung function in Los Angeles kids — at levels much, much lower than what we experience here every day
  • Air Pollution Threatens The Health of Children in China – an excellent review from Pediatrics magazine, 2008

OK, that’s enough to keep everyone busy for a few days. I don’t expect us to work miracles here; I just hope to share the evidence and continue the discussion, and at the very least have us take proper precautions for our own families — and lead by example. Does anyone else have a favorite article? Please leave links in the comments below. (By the way, the cigar recommendation was sarcasm…a bit of dark humor in the midst of dark times…although “everything in moderation”, yes?)

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Don’t leave home without one.
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6 thoughts on “Air Pollution 101: Here’s Your Syllabus”

  1. I can not find a site where it is confirmed that the 3M 8812 mask is a N95 mask. Can you help me out? Is a 3M 8812 mask preferred above a 3M 8210 N95?
    Thanks!

  2. My son is visiting Beijing for 4 weeks. Starting his second week, he has come down with a nasty cough. What do you recommend?

    Thanks,

    rw

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