Children's Lungs at-Risk Near Busy Streets

A new study released this week shows that children living in close proximity to busy streets and highways have poorer lung function and are more likely to develop respiratory illnesses as they grow up.

The study shows that the effects of traffic exhaust to children can last a lifetime. It's the latest in a trend of studies that, not surprisingly, that air pollution poses even greater threats to the health of our children than we ever thought. For many of us, this is just a confirmation that, yes, the nasty smells coming from tailpipes are not just unhealthy, but killing us.

Traffic exhaust is a toxic stew of pollutants. Fine soot particles, small enough to get into the bottoms of our lungs, are spewed by diesel engines. Other toxic chemicals released by tailpipes include nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, benzene, and formaldehyde.

Many of these tailpipe pollutants also react with sunlight to form ozone, or smog, the most widespread threat to peoples' health in the Denver metro area.

This latest study should be a call to action for all of us who want our children to have a healthy future. Clearly we need stronger clean air safeguards. But more importantly, we need to park our vehicles. Public transit, bicycles, even walking-these options are safer, healthier, and more enjoyable.

Above all, however, industry needs to be held accountable. This mess we're in was caused by the automobile industry, the oil industry, and others. Check out Terry Tamminen's plan to hold these industries accountable to clean air and our health. We need accountability today so our children have a a future tomorrow.