Asthma in the inner city and the indoor environment.
Inner-city residents continue to suffer disproportionate asthma morbidity despite recent progress in reducing asthma morbidity and mortality in other strata of the United States population. Studies over the past decade indicate that the indoor environment is a strong contributor to poor asthma control and asthma-related health care use in inner-city populations. Certain indoor exposures are more common and occur in higher concentrations in inner-city communities than in suburban communities. Identification of "asthmagenic" indoor exposures has paved the way for the development of intervention strategies aimed at reducing asthma morbidity. This article reviews the growing body of evidence that certain indoor environmental exposures contribute to the burden of asthma in the inner city.
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
Elizabeth C
EC
Matsui
Nadia N
NN
Hansel
Meredith C
MC
McCormack
Robert
R
Rusher
Patrick N
PN
Breysse
Gregory B
GB
Diette
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D014481:United States; D014504:Urban Health; D014505:Urban Population
D000485:Allergens