Summary
Authors partnered with five schools in the Northern and Central Imperial Valley between 2017 and 2022 to assess children's lung health over a 5-year period. Most students started the study when in 2nd or 3rd grade. Looking at air quality, authors measured how close each school was to major roadways, agricultural fields, and whether there were agricultural burns within a mile of each school. They also measured children's exposure to environmental hazards (mold or mildew, secondhand smoke, vermin) at home.
Findings: Higher levels of particulate matter in Imperial County were associated with more wheeze symptoms among AIRE study participants, and children at all 5 schools had lifetime prevalence of asthma (from 20% to 35%) that was significantly higher than the state or county average (12.3% and 13.8%), respectively.
This study cites California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) data on children's asthma.
