Scientific findings published in the ERJ in February 2012

Warning over cost of asthma caused by traffic-related air pollution

Air pollution generated from road traffic can cause asthma. Experts are constantly assessing the impact of traffic pollution on the costs of treating associated asthma cases.

A new study, published in the European Respiratory Journal, has suggested that the cost of treating this type of asthma is much higher than previously thought.

The researchers studied two areas in Southern California, USA, which have high levels of regional air pollution and where there are large roads close to residential neighbourhoods.

The researchers looked at a number of incidences often experienced by people with asthma, including doctors’ visits and school absences. They also calculated the costs associated with these incidences. This provided them with an ‘asthma career cost’, which estimated the lifelong costs incurred by an individual throughout the ‘career’ of the disease.

The results revealed that the total annual cost associated with having asthma was approximately 7 - 8% of the average household income in both of the South Californian communities, which exceeds the 5% level that is widely considered as sustainable for a family’s healthcare expenses.

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