AIR POLLUTION AND ASTHMA Many different factors are known to trigger flares of breathing difficulties in asthma sufferers. Exercise which includes inhalation of cold air, respiratory viral infections, airborne pollen and mold spore allergens and food allergens may all cause potentially severe asthma attacks. The role of air pollution from both industrial and automobile emissions has also become apparent in the past ten years. During the summer months in many urban communities, "breathing alerts" are now commonplace. Pollutants such asthma scholarship asthma and msg as ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and "smog" when elevated in the atmosphere even slightly can induce the human airways to close and go into spasm. Asthma patients have sensitive airways which react to much smaller amounts of air pollution than normal individuals. The precise incidence of air pollution as an aggravating factor in asthma and emphysema is difficult to tell. One study which evaluated the problem found that there was a three-fold increase in the asthma and msg asthma and msg visits to the Emergency Room by children with asthma during intense periods of air pollution. Many studies have documented that asthmatic children are more adversely affected by air pollution than adults with respiratory illnesses. Estimates are that a 50% reduction in air pollution would result in a 50% reduction in disability and death from asthma and emphysema. What are the levels of pollutants that can trigger breathing problems? Each patient is unique, and will respond differently, however, ozone levels asthma in children asthma and msg above 0.2 parts per million (ppm) in one hour's time is considered dangerous especially to asthmatic patients. Sulfur dioxide levels of 1 to 1.5 ppm are found during major periods of air pollution. Nitrogen dioxide levels should be below 1 ppm to keep from irritating the airways. Asthma patients need to know what is in the air before they go outside in order to avoid having problems breathing. Pollen and mold spores, as well as irritating pollutants, can make exercise induced asthma treatment asthma and msg breathing
