The Health Effects of Air Pollution Part I: Childhood Asthma and Air Pollution
We come into the world with the first breath and leave with the last exhalation. Breathing is something many of us take for granted - giving little or no thought to the effort required.

This is not the case for those who suffer from asthma. Children who have asthma don't take breathing for granted. Tightness in the chest, wheezing and coughing are familiar signs that an asthma attack is imminent. Narrowed airways caused by swelling of the lining, tightening of the muscle, and increased secretion of mucus in the airway make breathing difficult as the familiar wheezing begins. Without quick relief, distress and panic can cause further tightening of the muscles and narrowing of the airways. For a child, this can be a very frightening, debilitating experience.

The Health Effects of Air Pollution Part II: What is in the air?
If a local newspaper or TV newscast reported that all people in the city must stay indoors today because a terrorist had unloaded toxins and debris into the air that is hazardous to human health, the citizens of that community would be alarmed. The response would be, we need to take cover - we are being attacked.

The Health Effects of Air Pollution Part III: The Human Body Under Attack
The human body is an amazingly complex defense and self-healing system. The nose, mouth and throat filter air, food and water as it comes into the body. The skin, the largest organ of the body, protects the internal system from knocks, scrapes and cuts; senses changes in the environment; controls the body temperature; acts as a waterproof barrier and a screen against the sun’s damaging radiation; and protects underlying tissues from infection. The brain and nervous system direct interpretation and reaction to sensations from the environment outside the body, internal organs, tissues and cells. The body has its own fight or flight mechanism that engages quickly when danger is near. If bacteria, viruses or other toxic enemies invade the body, white blood cells come to the body’s defense and kill the invader.

The Health Effects of Air Pollution Part IV: Air Pollution and Cancer
Many lifestyle changes can be made to help prevent cancer: stop smoking or never start; eat a healthy diet; exercise; and learn healthy ways to cope with stress. But exposure to air pollution is a risk factor for cancer beyond individual control and requires public will to change.

Cancer-causing substances in the air According to data published by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than two billion pounds of toxic chemicals, including known and suspected carcinogens – cancer-causing substances – are released into the air each year from petrochemical facilities, power plants, incinerators and other industrial facilities. Exposure to carcinogens can be intensified when fine dust and soot particles in the air act as tiny sponges to soak up toxic substances and carry them deep into the lungs. Recent studies have found that toxin-soaked ultrafine particles can even make their way through the blood brain barrier, into the brain and bloodstream.

The Health Effects of Air Pollution Part V: Air Pollution and Heart Disease
Respiratory disease has been the top concern for people exposed to air pollution in Houston and other large cities, and most studies have examined the association of air pollution with lung cancer and asthma. However, recent studies have found that air pollution is related to more deaths from heart disease than lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses.

Children's Health Effects Series

The Health Effects of Air Pollution Part VI: Toxic air can harm embryo and developing fetus
Millions of pounds of toxic and hazardous substances are released into Houston’s air each year from petrochemical refineries, chemical plants and other industries along the Houston Ship Channel and the Gulf Coast. When a pregnant woman is exposed to toxic air, the embryo and developing fetus can be harmed as the toxins are carried in the mother’s blood into the womb.

The Health Effects of Air Pollution VII: Dangers for infants living in a toxic environment
Infants are exposed every day to toxic chemicals and other harmful substances in the air they breathe, the water they drink, even in their mothers’ milk. Exposure to these health hazards is putting children at risk for asthma, cancer, and developmental problems. Even infant death and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) have been linked to toxic air.

The Health Effects of Air Pollution Project VIII: Houston-Galveston area children toxic air
Children living in the Houston-Galveston area are breathing possibly the worst air in the United States. As asthma and cancer rates for children in the area climb, few, if any, studies are being conducted here to understand the health impact of the air pollution on children. And nothing is being done to reduce the amount of pollution being released from chemical plants and refineries or heavy motor traffic.