Specific gene LINKS automobile pollution to childhood asthma. "In a study of umbilical cord blood from New York City children, researchers found a change in a gene called ACSL3 that is associated with prenatal exposure to chemical pollutants called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are byproducts of incomplete combustion from carbon-containing fuels, resulting in high levels in heavy-traffic areas. Exposure to PAHs has previously been linked to diseases such as cancer and childhood asthma." Asthma May Start in the Womb Another reason we need electric vehicles - to save lives!
In a similar vein, when our family went camping they used to fog the entire campground with (???DDT???) in the 1960s. We as kids would run along behind the fogger truck to purposely get our clothes saturated so when we sat around the campfire we wouldn't get eaten alive. It's a wonder we didn't combust by the fire!.. Its also a wonder I'm still alive.
correlation is not causation. i'm not at all opposed to people thinking that we now have a solid genetic link to pollution and asthma, but i'm gonna put some realism down here and say this is a correlation study. significant statistically, but man those are some error margins... the paper is freely available on PLOS ONE- open-access science to the public. check it out!
