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Prolonged exposure can induce cardiovascular diseases, stroke, lung cancer and / or other chronic conditions. 5 Environmental pollutants initiate asthma 7.5 times more often in non-white kids than in white populations. 6
A retrospective analysis of asthmatic subjects revealed that high( bad) air quality index values, accompanied by elevated PM 2. 5 and ozone concentrations, were significantly associated with altered gene expression. 7 PM 2. 5 exposure increases epithelial induction of tissue kallikreins, mucus hypersecretion and barrier functions; ozone increases type-2 inflammation. 7 A person with asthma struggling to breathe through clogged airways is a frightening sight.
Louisville is ranked 16th among the 100 most unsafe places for individuals with asthma and was tenth for asthma-related emergency department contacts during 2021. 8 Pulmonary asthmatic crises are worse for young children, especially those under five years old. Louisville placed fourth in terms of asthma control medicine use, especially in metropolitan areas, and was the second most polluted mid-sized city in the U. S. 8
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, poor air quality was most prevalent in West Louisville, where most of the population is Black, with median income levels significantly below the U. S. average. 9 – 11 Most of the so-called affordable housing in West Louisville is located close to industrial complexes. City leaders suggest that planting trees is beneficial; however, this would not reduce rates of asthma, cancer or COVID-19 as much as clean air would. Air quality outdoors worsens when people and businesses run air-conditioning systems longer and at higher settings, which increases pollution.
Prevention is better than cure, and for asthma, this includes controlling illness severity. Education about the relationship between pollution and health can lead to positive outcomes. This involves limiting exposure to smoke and environmental toxins. Parents, guardians and caregivers can take measures such as quitting smoking and keeping the home well-ventilated and free from mold, pollen and dust mites to reduce asthma severity. Policymakers ought to implement strategic policies in the community, such as enforcing environmental health guidelines. It would help to regulate factories and mills that release toxic materials and monitor compliance.
1. AAFA Asthma Facts and Figures Updated April 2025. Accessed January 12, 2026. https:// aafa. org / wp-content / uploads / 2025 / 04 / aafa-asthma-factsand-figures. pdf
2. Flu and Children | Influenza( Flu) | CDC. Accessed January 13, 2026. https:// www. cdc. gov / flu / highrisk / children. html
3. Managing Asthma in the School Environment | US EPA. Accessed January 12, 2026. https:// www. epa. gov / iaq-schools / managing-asthma-school-environment
4. AAFA Asthma Facts and Figures Updated April 2025. Accessed January 12, 2026. https:// aafa. org / wp-content / uploads / 2025 / 04 / aafa-asthma-factsand-figures. pdf
5. Understanding the Strong Link between Air Pollution and Asthma | American Lung Association. Accessed January 12, 2026. https:// www. lung. org / blog / asthma-and-air-pollution
6. Communities of Color Across the US Suffer A Growing Burden from Polluted Air | Milken Institute School of Public Health | The George Washington University. Accessed January 10, 2026. https:// publichealth. gwu. edu / communities-color-across-us-suffer-growing-burden-polluted-air
7. Altman MC, Kattan M, O’ Connor GT, et al. Associations between outdoor air pollutants and non-viral asthma exacerbations and airway inflammatory responses in children and adolescents living in urban areas in the USA: a retrospective secondary analysis. The Lancet Planetary Health. 2023; 7( 1): e33-e44. doi: 10.1016 / S2542-5196( 22) 00302-3
8. Sheehan WJ, Patel SJ, Margolis RHF, et al. Pediatric asthma exacerbations during the COVID-19 pandemic: Absence of the typical fall seasonal spike in Washington, DC. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. 2021; 9( 5): 2073-2076. doi: 10.1016 / j. jaip. 2021.02.008
9. Gontla H, Khader S, Pais R, et al. Louisville’ s Roots in Pollution: A Battle Against Environmental Injustice. The Cardinal Edge. 2024; 2( 1), Article 2. Available at: https:// ir. library. louisville. edu / tce / vol2 / iss1 / 2. Accessed January 17, 2026
10. Pollution in Black neighborhoods part of Louisville’ s systemic racism » NCRC. Accessed January 16, 2026. https:// ncrc. org / pollution-in-black-neighborhoods-part-of-louisvilles-systemic-racism /
11. Rubbertown | LouisvilleKY. gov. Accessed January 16, 2026. https:// louisvilleky. gov / government / air-pollution-control-district / rubbertown
Dr. Lippmann is a retired psychiatry professor from the University of Louisville School of Medicine. Subsequently, he regularly provides primary medical care practice at the Family Community Clinic, clinically mentors lots of students, residents and international medical graduate physicians and teaches scientific medical writing seminars.
Dr. Chowdhury is employed by the University of Louisville School of Medicine in a public health physician capacity. She also participates in Dr. Lippmann’ s weekly medical writing seminar; through that connection, together we thought the Louisville medical community should be up-to-date about our city’ s asthma profile for kids.( non-member)
Advocacy and partnerships including government officials, citizens, schools and political / industry leaders – all important stakeholders – can reduce the burden of childhood asthma. Physicians are already knowledgeable and can be helpful, authoritative advisers as consultants at improving public health, especially for our children.
References
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