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Childhood asthma is a serious health concern in West Oakland, where one in five children is currently diagnosed with the disease. A major risk factor for asthma is the nearby Port of Oakland, which produces mass amounts of diesel emissions from trucks, trains, and ships that enter and exit the port each day. While current school-based programs teach children about the prevention and treatment of the disease, a more effective invention would occur even before birth. Studies have shown that taking certain precautions in pregnancy, including avoiding pollution exposure and consuming adequate sources of vitamin E and zinc, may reduce the likelihood of asthma in one’s offspring. An effective intervention would educate both parents and their children. Mothers would be taught about the triggers for asthma in pregnancy, while children would participate in school sessions that inform them about childhood asthma. By addressing asthma over the life course—in utero and beyond—we can help children lead happier and healthier lives.
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Diesel engines are the durable workhorses of
transportation, but as they get older, they spew unhealthy soot. Communities
with the highest diesel smog levels, like West Oakland, California, are working
hard to reduce the pollution.
Duration: 10:36 Original Air Date: Tuesday, Sep 4, 2007 |