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Asthma and the Environment

Just released report in .pdf format: Investing in Best Practices for Asthma: A Business Case for Education and Environmental Interventions, Asthma Regional Council, 2007, by Hoppin P, Jacobs M, Stillman L.

The Environmental Health Program helps to inform organizations about the link between environmental exposures and asthma by synthesizing and translating research evidence for real-world programmatic applications. The Environmental Health Program is also engaging with other institutions to improve our understanding of factors in the environment that contribute to the initial onset of asthma. Why focus on asthma and environment? Asthma is a chronic and potentially serious respiratory disease that can result in permanent lung damage and even death. 

• In 2005, an estimated 32.6 million Americans had ever been diagnosed with asthma during their lifetime (11.2%) and New England has the highest asthma rates in the country.
• Asthma disproportionately affects minority populations.
• For example, among Boston children under age 18 in 2002, the asthma hospitalization rate among Blacks was 4 times the rate for Whites; 3.7 times the rate for Latinos and 1.5 times the rate for Asians.
• The disease costs the U.S. economy $16.1 billion each year in direct medical care and losses in productivity.
• Children often miss school, avoid participating in sports and don’t sleep well because of asthma symptoms.
• In 2004, asthma accounted for nearly 15 million physician office visits, 1.8 million emergency department visits, and nearly 500,000 hospitalizations.

The good news is that, substantial evidence indicates that asthma symptoms can improve when exposure to environmental triggers are minimized.  The following current or ongoing asthma-related project areas demonstrate how the Lowell Center brings together research, diverse groups and practical tools to reverse rates of this chronic disease.

Enhancing Environmental Investments for Asthma
Reducing Asthma Risk Associated with Chemicals
Collaborative on Health and Environment Asthma Working Group

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