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Breathing polluted air as kid? Your lungs might be paying the price years later: Study

Breathing polluted air as kid? Your lungs might be paying the price years later: Study

Air pollution

A new study has found that polluted air breathed in during the early years of childhood could contribute to deteriorating lung health in adulthood.

The research, dated back to 1992, examines the impact of air pollution on children in California, United States some of whom are now in their 40s.

Lead researcher Dr Erika Garcia and her team at the University of Southern California analysed data from over 1,300 individuals, considering factors such as income, lifestyle (including smoking), housing, and health.

They compared this data to their childhood health records and the levels of local air pollution they were exposed to while growing up.

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The initial finding indicated that people with higher childhood exposure to particulate pollution and nitrogen dioxide were more likely to experience bronchitic symptoms as adults. This connection was particularly strong for those who had asthma and lung issues during childhood.

The study also found an unexpected link between exposure to air pollution during childhoodand adult bronchitic symptoms even for those who did not have lung problems as children. This means that there's a high possibility of damage from exposureto air pollution in childhood manifesting in adulthood.

“This was surprising. We thought air pollutant effects on childhood asthma or bronchitic symptoms would be a major pathway by which childhood air pollution exposure affects adult respiratory health,” the lead author of the study, Garcia told The Guardian.

According to Gracia, the study also needed to differentiate between the long-term effects of childhood exposure and the consequences of breathing polluted air as adults. To achieve this, the researchers examined each individual's recent exposure to air pollution and incorporated this data into their analysis.

“We wanted to see if childhood exposure was still associated with adult bronchitic symptoms, even after controlling for current exposure, and it was,” Garcia added.

“This underscores the importance of lowering air pollution exposure for all, including children who are in a period of increased vulnerability to air pollution effects,” speakingaboutthe significance of her latest research, Garcia said.

(With inputs from agencies)