Association of Major California Freight Railyards with Asthma-related Pediatric Emergency Department Hospital Visits

Spencer-Hwang R., Pasco-Rubio M., Soret S., Ghamsary M., Sinclair R., Alhusseini N., and Montgomery S.

2019

Asthma is a major health threat and leading cause of chronic morbidity among children. Air pollutants have been linked to exacerbations and promotion of initial development of asthma. Extensive research already conducted assessing adverse health impacts associated with exposure to pollutants from vehicular traffic. However, little research conducted assessing exposure to pollutants stemming from goods movement industry, such as freight railyards. This study’s purpose to assess potential association between residential proximity to major freight railyards and asthma-related emergency room (ER) visits in children.