How the change works
- 01 / Public decision
Reduction of sources
- 02 / Physical change
Cleaner air over time
- 03 / Possible outcome
Observed lung growth
Reducing pollution may accompany healthier lung growth, with benefits built in childhood.
Research and local documents ↓What the evidence tells us
In five Southern California communities, Gauderman and colleagues observe fewer adolescents with reduced lung function in cohorts exposed to cleaner air: 7.9%, 6.3%, and 3.6%.
Fewer teenagers below the pulmonary threshold
7.9 % of teenagers1994—1998 Cohort
6.3 % of teenagers1997—2001 Cohort
3.6 % of teenagers2007—2011 Cohort
FEV1 lower than 80% of the expected value at 15 years. Different cohorts; observational association with cleaner air.
Open the source ↗Read values and method
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| 1994—1998 Cohort | 7.9 % of teenagers |
| 1997—2001 Cohort | 6.3 % of teenagers |
| 2007—2011 Cohort | 3.6 % of teenagers |
FEV1 lower than 80% of the expected value at 15 years. Different cohorts; observational association with cleaner air.
Putting the choices into practice
Exposure
The challengePersistent pollution
The responseReduced sources
Time
The challengeOne-day measure
The responseExposure during growth
Outcome
The challengeUndefined illness
The responsePrecise indicator
The diagram compares choices and conditions for putting them into practice. Measured outcomes and their limits are discussed in the evidence.
Research and local documents ↓Conditions and limits
The cohorts are different and the design is observational. The indicator is a FEV1 lower than 80% than expected, not a general diagnosis of illness.
Other possible benefits
Protection in places where children live and study.
Research and local documents
- Local document and reported findingGauderman et al., 2015 · Association of Improved Air Quality with Lung Development in Children ↗
Research on the case, mechanism, or measures discussed in the sheet.
