Asthma: The Leading Respiratory Diseases By: Nahom Kidanemariam

Respiratory Diseases  New York City residents often feel powerless as they are forced to live with Asthma  The triggers for Asthma often differ between individuals Common triggers include:  Pollens, molds  Cigarette smoke,  Sinus infection  Heavy exercise Asthma Photo: Triggers, FredoAlvarez

Contributing Factor  There are various factors that lead to individuals developing asthma  Prevalent factor is the quality of air According to The Clean Air Act- air particle pollution (PM), ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides adversely affect the quality of air  New York City’s air quality and ozone are ranked moderate by EPA due to: Pollutants discharged from heavy traffic flow Reaction of other chemicals in presence of sunlight Air Quality

Air Quality Index: New York City Air Quality Index (AQI) ValuesLevel of Health ConcernCautionary Statement When the AQI is in this rangeAir quality conditions are:According to Air Quality level 0 to 50Good According to Air Quality Level Air quality is considered statisfacy, and air pollution poses little or no risk 51 to 100Moderate Air quality is acceptable, however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution 101 to 150Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected 151 to 200Unhealthy Everyone may begin to experience health effects, members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects 201 to 300Very Unhealthy Health alert: everyone may experience more serious health effects 301 to 500Hazardous Health Warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected Source EPA:

Air Pollutants  Asthma is more acute in children residing in the Bronx due to the manufacturing land-use zoning in the Bronx  New York City level of bad ozone severely affected due to pollutants discharged from heavy traffic flow Photo: Truck, Km6xo Photo: Factory, Erwyn van der Meer Photo: NYC Traffic, Kevin Coles Contributing Factor

 The relationship between asthma rates and race, and household income can be drawn  Children living in low income neighborhoods (4.8%) are more likely to be diagnosed then children of high income neighborhood (2.3%) Photo: Low Income Housing: The Voice of Eye The Home Environment Contributing Factor

 Hispanic children (12%) and black children (10%) have a higher risk of being diagnosed with asthma then white children (4%)  The severity of asthma is especially high in children whom reside in Northeast Bronx, Fordham and Bronx Park, South Bronx, East and Central Harlem The Home Environment Contributing Factor Photo: Children, David Masters

The Future  Currently there are action plans in place to help children and families deal with Asthma  Asthma Action plan would help families to be better equipped notice and avoid triggers and receive appropriate timely medication  The City of New York is planning to plant 1 million extra trees by 2017 to help reduce asthma rate  Photo: Action Plan, kqedquest Photo: Trees, outofmytree

 Increased governmental oversight of the Bronx manufacturing zone will also help to improve Bronx’s Asthma rate  Local Law 77: Introduced to improve the Air Quality in New York City and combat the alarming asthma related hospitalization rate The Future Governmental Oversight Photo: NYC City Hall,wallyg

REFERENCE  Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America “Asthma Overview, : What causes Asthma,”  US EPA “Six common Air Pollutants, April 8, 2008: What are the six common Air Pollutants,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, “NYC Vital Signs, February 2008: Childhood Asthma in New York City” New York City Department of Healthy and Mental Hygiene  Renu Garg, Adam Karpati, Jessica Leighton, Mary Perrin and Mona Shah, “Asthma Faces, Second Edition, May 2003” The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.  ScienceDaily, “Tree-lined streets mean lower rates of children Asthma: May ”  New York State. “Air Quality Index Legend”. April 24,  Local Laws Of The City Of New York, “Local Law No. 77: 2003”