Studies & Reports
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A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Inhaled Reliever Therapies for Asthma
A systematic review and meta-analysis released in October 2024 by JAMA Network of 27 clinical trials (50,496 participants) compared inhaled asthma relievers. Findings show that combining inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) with short-acting β agonists (SABA) or formoterol significantly reduces severe asthma exacerbations and improves asthma control compared to SABA alone. ICS-formoterol showed the greatest benefit, reducing…
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Report Highlights Air Pollution Reductions and Health Benefits of Changes to US Rail System
From Margins to Growth: The Economic Case for a Public Rail System highlights a range of economic challenges of the current U.S. rail system. The report also examines the impact of changes to the rail system, including public rail ownership. According to the assessment, such changes would prevent $190 billion in public health, environmental, and…
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Study Identifies Asthma Inequities at the City Level Using the Asthma Equity Explorer Database and Tool
Utilizing the Asthma Equity Explorer Database (AEED), a free web-based database and tool for asthma research developed by MITRE and hosted by Allergy & Asthma Network, researchers examined the relationship between housing stress, redlining, the non-Hispanic Black population, and asthma prevalence four of the worst but highly diverse U.S. capital cities (Allentown, PA; Cleveland, OH;…
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Study Shows Drying Salton Sea in Southern California Raises Respiratory Health and Environmental Justice Concerns
According to a study, the desiccation of the Salton Sea in California’s Imperial Valley, exacerbated by climate change and competing water demands, poses environmental and health risks. The study, “Air quality and wheeze symptoms in a rural children’s cohort near a drying saline lake,” was published in Environmental Research in October 2024. Researchers investigated the…
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American Lung Association Explores How Emerging Technologies Can Bridge Air Quality Data Gaps
For 25 years, the American Lung Association’s State of the Air report has provided critical insights into air quality across the nation, using data from official monitoring networks to track ozone and particulate matter levels. Building on this legacy, Something in the Air: Bridging the Air Quality Data Gap with Satellite Technology explores how emerging…
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Reducing Air Pollution and Exposure Can Save San Joaquin Valley Residents Millions
The San Joaquin Valley (SJV) is one of the most polluted regions in the US, where air pollution exacerbates respiratory issues like asthma, contributing to significant health and economic burdens. In a study published in April 2024, in the Journal of Asthma and Allergy, researchers analyzed data from 2016 to assess the costs of ozone (O₃),…
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Community Health Workers Connecting Home, School, Healthcare Systems, and the Community to Improve Asthma
A study, funded by the National Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, was conducted to determine if a community health worker (CHW) intervention to connect the primary care, home, and school for low-income, minority school-aged children with asthma and their caregivers improves asthma control. In Philadelphia, a randomized clinical trial followed 626 participants over…
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Study on How Low-Cost Air Cleaners Can Meaningfully Improve Indoor Air Quality
Air cleaners can reduce indoor exposure to fine particulate matter during wildfire smoke events, but cost and availability often limit access to commercial devices or high-rated filters for DIY solutions. In August 2024, researchers developed and tested affordable DIY air cleaners using common household fabrics to address this issue. In the journal, Science and Technology…
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Literature Review Reveals the Effects of Climate and Environmental Factors on Childhood Asthma
In the August 2024 edition of the Science of the Total Environment, researchers report on a systematic literature review they conducted to assess the epidemiological evidence using spatial and temporal methods on the impact of climate and environmental factors on childhood asthma. The findings reveal that “extreme weather events, including heatwaves and heavy rainfall, elevate…