While it has long since been known that smog and smoke worsen the symptoms of asthma, a recent study suggests that air pollution may also cause asthma.

            3,000 forth, seventh and tenth graders, from 12 different Southern California cities were recruited for the study; participants were followed for five years.

            Researchers determined that children who lived in high-smog areas were much more likely to develop asthma if they were avid athletes than if they didn’t participate in sports.

            In high-ozone cities, athletes who played three or more sports developed asthma three to four times more often than those who didn’t play sports.

            Results differed in low-ozone cities, which suggested ozone, rather than activity level, was to blame.

            Children who exercise hard inhale 10 to 20 times more air than children who aren’t active.

            Health experts note that parents should not discourage their children from participating in athletic activities, but to refrain from engaging in such activities when it’s smoky or smoggy outdoors.

SOURCE: The Lancet, 2002; USA Today, February 1, 2002, p.4A

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