Studies & Reports
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Wildfire Smoke Associated with Poorer COVID-19 Outcomes
Researchers published an article in the October edition of European Review of Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, looking at the impact of wildfire smoke on COVID-19 in San Francisco. The researchers looked at daily COVID-19 cases, deaths, particulate matter (PM-2.5 μm) and carbon monoxide from March 20, 2020 to Sept 16, 2020. They found that a…
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Study Assesses Impact of Household Intervention on Indoor Air Quality and Health of Children
The Journal of Environmental and Public Health contains an article in its August 2020 edition of a study that aimed “to examine the impact of the combined intervention with asthma education and air purifier[s] on IAQ and health outcomes in the US-Mexico border area.” To conduct the study, particulate matter levels were recorded throughout houses…
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Article Examines Treatment for Children with Severe Therapy-Resistant Asthma
The September 2020 edition of The Lancet includes an article examining advances that have been made in “understanding the pathophysiology of severe therapy-resistant asthma in children.” The article looks closely at “mechanistic studies…” that “have led to the development of several biologics targeting type 2 inflammation,” which has potential to reduce asthma burdens, but requires…
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AAFA Releases Asthma Disparities in America: A Roadmap to Reducing Burden on Racial and Ethnic Minorities
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has released the report Asthma Disparities in America: A Roadmap to Reducing Burden on Racial and Ethnic Minorities. This report examines changes in asthma prevalence and outcomes since the 2005 release of AAFA’s Ethnic Disparities in the Burden and Treatment of Asthma report. Another key focus of…
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Research Shows Disproportionate Rate of Coronavirus Deaths in Polluted Areas
COVID-19 can be made more serious by a specific type of industrial emission called hazardous air pollutants, or HAPs, according to peer-reviewed research by ProPublica and researchers at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, published on September 11, 2020 in Environmental Research Letters. Their focus on HAPs builds upon…
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Thunderstorm-Related Respiratory Illnesses Among Older Adults
JAMA Internal Medicine released a research letter on August 10, 2020, examining emergency visits for thunderstorm-related respiratory illnesses among older adults. The study was designed “to determine whether increases in emergency department (ED) visits for acute respiratory illnesses occur among Medicare beneficiaries in the days surrounding thunderstorms across the continental US.” The researchers note this…
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ASHRAE Releases Report on Damp Buildings, Human Health and HVAC Design
ASHRAE, formerly known as the American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, has released a report titled “Damp Buildings, Human Health and HVAC Design.” The report take an in-depth look at dampness-related health risks in buildings and provides details of symptoms of dampness. It also provides suggestions to improve HVAC systems and describes the…
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Economic Cost of Respiratory Conditions for Adults in America
In Morbidity and Mortality Week Report’s July 2020 edition, an article examines the economic cost of respiratory conditions for adults in America. The study focuses on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and looks at employed adults over 18 between the years of 2011 and 2015. Researchers found that “the annualized total medical expenditures,…
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Lessons Learned from a Decrease in Asthma Emergency Department Visits During the COVID-19 Pandemic
On August 4th, researchers from the National Health Service published an article in The Lancet: Respiratory Medicine on “COVID-19 and preschool wheeze care: lessons learned.” The authors explain that, “The pattern of increasing visits to the emergency department by children younger than 5 years with preschool wheeze and other respiratory conditions has been disrupted by…