Link between pollution and asthma uncovered

Dutch researchers have uncovered elusive evidence of a direct link between air pollution and children's asthma symptoms by first identifying groups at risk, such as children with allergies.

In research done at Groningen University, which was published last week (Lancet 1999;353:874-8), children with both bronchial hyperresponsiveness and atopy, a susceptibility to allergens measured by higher concentrations of IgE antibodies, were for the first time compared with children from control groups.

The researchers found that as concentrations of …