Blog
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Wildfire Smoke Associated with Poorer COVID-19 Outcomes
Researchers published an article in the October edition of European Review of Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, looking at the impact of wildfire smoke on COVID-19 in San Francisco. The researchers looked at daily COVID-19 cases, deaths, particulate matter (PM-2.5 μm) and carbon monoxide from March 20, 2020 to Sept 16, 2020. They found that a…
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Scientists Collaborate on FAQs To Protect Yourself from COVID-19 Aerosol Transmission
Scientists and engineers with many years of collective research experience related to indoor air quality, aerosol science, aerosol disease transmission, and engineered control systems for aerosols have come together to produce a publicly accessible document on FAQs on Protecting Yourself from COVID-19 Aerosol Transmission. The authors explain, “The goal of these FAQs is to provide…
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Indoor Air Quality and COVID
Asthma stakeholders have long recognized the importance of air quality. Understanding the numerous factors that make indoor air quality worse, asthma advocates have worked to reduce the presence of environmental asthma triggers — like mold or harmful cleaning products — while also incorporating the important roles of ventilation and filtration into recommendations and policies. Similarly,…
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Study Assesses Impact of Household Intervention on Indoor Air Quality and Health of Children
The Journal of Environmental and Public Health contains an article in its August 2020 edition of a study that aimed “to examine the impact of the combined intervention with asthma education and air purifier[s] on IAQ and health outcomes in the US-Mexico border area.” To conduct the study, particulate matter levels were recorded throughout houses…
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Article Examines Treatment for Children with Severe Therapy-Resistant Asthma
The September 2020 edition of The Lancet includes an article examining advances that have been made in “understanding the pathophysiology of severe therapy-resistant asthma in children.” The article looks closely at “mechanistic studies…” that “have led to the development of several biologics targeting type 2 inflammation,” which has potential to reduce asthma burdens, but requires…
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AAFA Releases Asthma Disparities in America: A Roadmap to Reducing Burden on Racial and Ethnic Minorities
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has released the report Asthma Disparities in America: A Roadmap to Reducing Burden on Racial and Ethnic Minorities. This report examines changes in asthma prevalence and outcomes since the 2005 release of AAFA’s Ethnic Disparities in the Burden and Treatment of Asthma report. Another key focus of…
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CA Dept. of Public Health Releases Resources on Mold Complaints and Enforcement
The California Department of Public Health’s Indoor Air Quality Section has released several resources dedicated to the issue of mold. First, they’ve created a searchable database on who to contact for mold complaints in each jurisdiction within the state. The database covers each county, as well as any cities there is specific information for within…
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Inequitable Access to Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic
With the expansion of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, public health leaders have hoped that this method of care would increase the ability to reach vulnerable populations. However, a number of challenges have arisen. On October 2, 2020, researchers Thromson et al published an invited commentary titled, “The Pandemic of Health Care Inequity” in the…
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Research Shows Disproportionate Rate of Coronavirus Deaths in Polluted Areas
COVID-19 can be made more serious by a specific type of industrial emission called hazardous air pollutants, or HAPs, according to peer-reviewed research by ProPublica and researchers at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, published on September 11, 2020 in Environmental Research Letters. Their focus on HAPs builds upon…
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Asthma Management Academy Releases Recording on How California Asthma Home Visiting Programs are Adapting to COVID-19
On June 4th, 2020, the Asthma Management Academy, run by California Breathing, the state’s asthma program, hosted a webinar featuring presenters from four organizations with asthma home visiting programs. The presenters shared how community health workers are providing home visits during the COVID-19 pandemic, how these programs support their clients remotely, and their implementation successes…
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AAAAI Research Summary Finds No to Little Risk for Asthma and Severe COVID-19 Outcomes
On September 4, 2020, the American Association of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology (AAAAI) published a summary of research to date on asthma and COVID-19. In describing the article, the authors write, “There have been many studies looking at the relationship between COVID-19 and asthma. Thus far, the vast majority of these studies have found no…
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Childhood Asthma, COVID-19 and Returning to School
While most California schools have begun the year with remote learning, many children have returned to school in other parts of the country. As school staff, parents and students grapple with the many considerations of returning to school during a pandemic, people with asthma may have additional considerations. Fortunately, some great resources and guidance have…