Why We Care

National Asthma Impacts Annually

94,560

Hospital Inpatient Stays for Asthma

986,453

Reported Emergency Department Visits for Asthma

24,963,874

People Reported Having Asthma

Why Does This Matter?

This project is important for the people living in and around polluted communities, as they are more susceptible to serious or even life-threatening diseases. Exposure to particulate matter is very harmful to the surrounding communities, as high exposure could lead to potential conditions such as asthma for children and adults. PM2.5 is classified as a fine particle, which means that these particles are extremely small and easy to inhale past the body's defense mechanisms. According to the CDC, asthma is the most common long-term health concern for children, which could potentially withhold children from certain activities. In Portsmouth, VA, Victory Boulevard is recognized as a high-traffic road with excessive amounts of trucks and cars traveling along it daily which has a tremendous impact on air pollution. Around this road are many public schools, parks, and neighborhoods, which makes these communities more at risk of harmful exposure. 

https://ejscreen.epa.gov/mapper/

Other Diseases Associated with PM Exposure Include:

  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

  • Acute and Chronic Bronchitis

  • Lower Respiratory Infections

  • Heart Disease/Heart Attacks

  • Strokes

  • Type 2 Diabetes

  • Obesity

  • Systemic inflammation

  • Alzheimer's Disease

  • Dementia

  • Reduced Lung Function

  • Cardiovascular Diseases

  • Trachea, Bronchus, and Lung Cancers

  • And With Long-Term Exposure... Premature Death