THE CHILDREN’S HEALTH STUDY May 6, 2002 Air Resources Board California Environmental Protection Agency

Presentation Objectives Provide brief background to the Children’s Health Study (CHS) Address and explain recent results from CHS Discuss future plans for the cohort Discuss other ARB studies focusing on children and asthma

Introduction to the Children’s Health Study 1992 recruited ~5500 children 12 communities –variability of pollutants Stable population dynamics

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! KERN SAN BERNARDINO LOS ANGELES SAN DIEGO RIVERSIDE VENTURA SANTA BARBARA SAN LUIS OBISPO ORANGE Upland Lompoc Alpine Glendora Riverside Mira Loma Lancaster Long Beach Atascadero Santa Maria Lake Elsinore Lake Arrowhead

Asthma in Exercising Children Exposed to Ozone: A Cohort Study Investigate the relationship between new asthma cases and team sports –cohort of children exposed to different concentrations of pollutants

Methods 3535 children recruited from schools Baseline questionnaire: previous asthma diagnosis number of team sports personal characteristics Pollutants measured

Four-Year Ozone Concentrations

Results: Incident Asthma Objective: new asthma cases team sports

Asthma, Air Pollution and Sports

Results: Other Pollutants Results the same when other pollutants considered –high ozone, high PM10, NO 2, acids –high ozone, low PM10, NO 2, acids

Implications Increased risk of asthma in children playing 3 or more sports in high ozone Importance of ozone advisories and ozone reduction Results need to be confirmed

The Future of CHS ARB and USC determining analysis plan USC seeking support from NIH to follow children

Fresno Asthmatic Children’s Environment Study (FACES) 300 asthmatic children Study of the effects of environmental factors including air pollution on daily asthma symptoms and long term asthma progression

Increased Air Pollution Monitoring in Homes and Schools Criteria Pollutants –including components of particulate matter Mold, endotoxin, pollens Environmental tobacco smoke Components of particulate matter Volatile organic compounds

Health Measurements Lung function testing Skin testing for allergens Questionnaires on home environment Daily dairies

Vulnerable Populations Research Program Sensitive sub-populations Quantify their health effects Identify exposure to air pollution

Thank you