Diesel fumes ‘worsen’ asthma symptoms
People on the lookout for asthma insurance can benefit from avoiding diesel traffic air pollution, it has been suggested.
An article published in this week’s New England Journal of Medicine outlined how the lung function of asthma sufferers is harmed by the effects of such pollution.
Scientists highlighted Department of Transport statistics revealing that there are nine million diesel vehicles in the UK, with that number continuing to rise.
"With over five million people in the UK suffering from asthma, it is important that we that we urgently consider practical ways to reduce harmful emissions from diesel vehicles," remarked Dr Paul Cullinan, honorary consultant in respiratory medicine at Royal Brompton Hospital.
"Our findings may also help city planners to consider how they lay out future road structures to make sure that, where possible, pedestrians’ exposure to exhaust fumes is minimised," he continued.
For the purposes of the study, researchers looked at the effects of a two-hour walk in two different London settings on 60 volunteers, who all had mild to moderate asthma.
Greater reduction in lung function was noted among those who walked along a bustling Oxford Street compared to those who meandered through a traffic-free section of Hyde Park.
The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with asthma
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