A study conducted over 2 years on 861 asthmatic inner-city U.S. children, aged 5 to 12 years, has found that  the children’s lung function was significantly reduced following exposure to higher levels of air pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide. 

The most symptoms were associated with nitrogen dioxide exposure. As this chemical primarily enters the air in motor vehicle exhaust, the researchers suggested that car emissions may be causing adverse respiratory health effects in urban asthmatic children. Since the adverse effects were observed even when air pollution levels were within the current air quality standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency, the findings raised questions about current air quality standards.

In light of these outcomes, it was noted that part of overall asthma management for inner-city children may need to include efforts to reduce exposure to air pollutants.

One way of reducing exposure to motor vehicle exhaust at home is to avoid attaching a garage to the house, for car fumes from an attached garage will enter the house and pollute the indoor air. Cars should preferably be housed in open shelters away from the home. If your home has an attached garage, minimise entry of exhaust fumes to the living area by ensuring that the door between the house and the garage is tightly sealed; by keeping the door between the garage and the house closed, particularly when a car motor is running; by opening the garage door before starting the car; and by never idling the car in the garage.

References

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services  NIH News  2008  Air Pollution Affects Respiratory Health in Children with Asthma  Press release, available online at http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/news/newsreleases/2008/pollution_asthma.htm (Viewed on 18.4.08)