Recent studies show air pollution increases risk for children to develop autism
American Academy of Pediatrics reveals air quality could impact a child before they are even born
IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - A story well known for Imperial County and its surrounding areas: air pollution. Children with inhalers have become a common scene around the county. Imperial is the 2nd highest city with asthma cases in California. We are also learning that air pollution causes a higher risk in children to develop autism.
Heather Brumberg is a neonatologist and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Brumberg tells us that children are more likely to develop conditions as a result of air pollution.
“We know that children are at higher risk of having these effects from air pollution because they breathe more air and their organs are developing; there are these windows of vulnerability," she says.
Brumberg is also the co-author of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Policy Statement. She explains that those windows of vulnerability also include fetal growth, low birth weight, prematurity and abnormal lung development.
“Nobody is safe, but there are things we can do to improve air quality," she adds.
With 121 emergency department visits relating to asthma in the last year for those ages 5-17, Imperial County Air Pollution District Project Manager Belen Lopez tells us they’re doing all they can.
“The biggest one right now with schools is the air filtration program where we change filters in schools to reduce air pollution," Lopez shares.
So far six schools have received those air filtration changes to their classrooms. The county looks to implement those changes and zero emission busses for as many schools as possible. The only mask that can sometimes protect you from inhaling pollution particles is the N-95 mask.
