Study Links Childhood Asthma to Living near Busy Roads

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Category: Health

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. inhale / ɪnˈheɪl / (v) – to breathe in
    Example:

    My doctor instructed me to inhale so she can examine my breathing rate.


  2. airway / ˈer weɪ / (n) – the part of the throat where air passes to and from the lungs
    Example:

    The patient with blocked airway has breathing difficulties.


  3. malady / ˈmæl ə di / (n) – an illness 
    Example:

    My friend still pushed through with her trip despite her malady.


  4. adjacent / əˈdʒeɪ sənt / (adj) – close or near a certain area
    Example:

    Let’s use the meeting room adjacent to the lobby so the others can easily find us.


  5. peripheral / pəˈrɪf ər əl / (adj) – describing something that is away from the center of something
    Example:

    The legs are peripheral to the chest.


Article

Read the text below.

A new study found that living near busy roads increases the risk of asthma among children.


Researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health analyzed the data of 1,522 children born from 1999 to 2002 in Boston, Massachusetts /ˌmæs.əˈtʃuː.sɪts / . They analyzed information like medical and residential history through the children’s mothers who previously participated in a study called Project Viva. This study aimed to learn about the effects of behavioral and environmental factors on children’s health.


Using mapping technologies, the researchers calculated the distance between the children’s houses and the nearest busy road, as well as pollution levels in their area of residence.


Results revealed that most children are exposed to soot or black carbon particles that enter the lungs when inhaled. As a result, children who live less than 100 meters away from a busy road are more prone to asthma than those who live more than 400 meters away. According to the study’s co-author Mary Rice, children have smaller airways, which make them more at risk of experiencing asthma symptoms like breathing difficulties.


Apart from asthma, maladies like heart diseases and dementia—a condition associated with memory loss—have also been linked to living adjacent to busy roads. Previous studies found that high blood pressure and peripheral artery disease, or the tightening of arteries in body parts like legs and the stomach, are common among those living near busy roads. On the other hand, factors such as traffic and noise were found to contribute to the increasing rates of dementia.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• Aside from those mentioned in the article, what do you think are the other dangers associated with living near busy roads? Discuss.
• Do you think that adults who live near busy roads should also be tested for asthma? Explain.

Discussion B

• What do you think people can do to avoid illnesses caused by pollution?
• Do you think that avoiding the effects of pollution alone will greatly help in preventing illnesses? Explain.