Why do we care so much about air pollution? Is it simply because we want the air to look better-we don't want to see black smoke bellowing from industrial chimneys?

No, the answer is much more significant. Air pollution makes us sick. We want to stop air pollution because if we stop air pollution, we will all live healthier lives.

Studies have reported a link between air pollution and childhood asthma. In a 1999 edition of The Lancet, a study reviewed reports from the Netherlands, which demonstrated evidence of a causal relationship between air pollution and childhood asthma. This study was conducted during three winters between 1992 and 1995.

Children in both rural areas and urban areas were evaluated. They were between seven and 11 years old. The children were divided into four groups based on their medical conditions.

Researchers found that when there was increased air pollution, the children who were prone to asthma were significantly more likely to experience respiratory symptoms and where there were particularly large air pollution particulates, children were between 32 and 139 % more likely to experience respiratory symptoms depending on their background and other specific criteria. Air pollution makes people ill.

In a study released in May 2000 by the Pew Environmental Health Commission at Johns Hopkin School of Health, it was reported that by their estimates, asthma cases will double by 2020, affecting 29 million Americans, or one in five families.

That organization criticized the Government for waiting 15 years after the asthma problem in this country became what it termed an epidemic to unveil its first public health strategy to curtail the spread of asthma. In 1980, it reported that there were approximately five million cases of asthma. That number doubled to 10 million in 1990 and shy of 15 million in 1995.

According to this report, between 1980 and 1994, asthma rates went up 75% and they went up by 160% for children under age four. In one year, asthma accounted for 1.8 million visits to hospital emergency rooms, and more than 10 million missed school days, making asthma the number one cause of school absenteeism. With two school aged children, I found this to be startling.

That organization recommended five components to a federal strategy to combat this epidemic:

1. Establish a 15 State tracking system within two years and a nationwide system within five years to provide a greater level of information to the public and local health officials. We need to understand the facts, not the myths.
2. Enhance targeted investigations into asthma deaths and to determine the causes of asthma.
3. Begin short and long-term environmental health studies.
4. Begin a comprehensive public education program.
5. Provide the Surgeon General with the authority to use Federal resources in this battle.

The information provided in this column is written by Stuart Lieberman,a practicing environmental attorney, and is for general information purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be used in place of legal advice.

Stuart Lieberman, Esq., and IRED.Com, Inc., will not accept any responsibilty for any reliance on the information in this column or any damages whatsoever resulting from reading this column.