Global News

[ad_1] The harmful impact of traffic-related air pollution on respiratory health has been thoroughly documented, but National Jewish Health experts are also looking at how rising pollutants affect another health area - allergic disease. According to a recent study, highly travelled highways in the state of Colorado have negative effects on skin health in children, increasing the possibility of developing atopic dermatitis. Children who lived at least a thousand metres away from heavily used highways had a decreased risk of developing atopic dermatitis than those who lived within 500 meters. "These findings highlight the importance of having environmental interventions designed to decrease exposure to traffic in young children," said Jessica Hui, MD, senior author of the study, and a pediatric allergist and immunologist at National Jewish Health. Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, commonly occurs in children and can lead to a progression of allergic diseases, also known a