Exposure To Air Pollution In Childhood Linked To Bronchitis Risk Later In Life: Study

The researchers note that children are especially susceptible to the effects of air pollution because their respiratory and immune systems are still developing. (Credit: image by wirestock on Freepik)

Air pollution is linked to health issues such as stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, pneumonia, and cataracts. A new study suggests that exposure to air pollution in childhood raises the risk of developing bronchitis later in life.

Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC discovered that childhood exposure to air pollution is linked to lung issues during childhood, which in turn are consistently associated with respiratory problems in adulthood. The results of the study were published in the journal American Journal of Respiratory and Clinical Care Medicine.