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Current Issue:

Breath Matters
The American Lung Association of California's Monthly e-Newsletter
September 1, 2006 Number 139
http://www.californialung.org

Content:

Respiratory Rallies Improve Quality of Life for People with COPD
Seasonal Asthma Poll Data and Asthma Study Results Released
Solid Air Fresheners May Cause Lung Damage
Health Impacts of Global Warming Legislative Briefing a Success
Association Supports Prop 87: The Battle for Clean Air Has Begun
San Diego Home to California�s First Smoke-Free Football Stadium
Association Secures Grants to Improve Air Quality
Ordinance Ousts Toxic Polluters From Residential Areas
Researcher Studies Acute Lung Injury
Research Correction
Asthma Walks
Tell a Friend

MONTHLY HEALTH TIP

Respiratory Rallies Improve Quality of Life for People with COPD Focused on providing informational tools to help people with lung disease breathe easier, Respiratory Rallies are being held around the state to help ease the suffering caused by emphysema and chronic bronchitis, also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For more information, visit www.respiratoryrally.org

SEASONAL ASTHMA POLL DATA AND ASTHMA STUDY RESULTS RELEASED

As millions of students with asthma pour back into the nation�s classrooms over the next month, the startling results of an American Lung Association poll of parents of children with asthma reveal they are not taking basic steps to manage their child�s asthma while at school. Less than one-third of those parents surveyed make sure their children are under medical supervision or talk to school administrators about their child�s asthma, despite evidence that asthma emergency room and hospitalization rates spike in September; a seasonal �back-to-school asthma� phenomenon.

The results of the poll were announced in a statewide news release, along with information about a recent study by the American Lung Association of California published in the August edition of the medical journal Pediatrics showing asthma rates vary greatly among Hispanic and Asian subgroups. Lead author Adam M. Davis, MPH, MA, director of Asthma and COPD Programs at the Emeryville office, and colleagues at the California Department of Health Services analyzed asthma data from the California Healthy Kids Survey.

To view the news release, visit http://californialung.org/press/060822AsthmaBackToSchool.html

For more information about the study, contact Adam at 510.893.5474 or adavis@alaebay.org

SOLID AIR FRESHENERS MAY CAUSE LUNG DAMAGE

The American Lung Association of California helped raise awareness about the potential health hazard posed by solid air fresheners in an August 7 Los Angeles Times article. A study released in May by the California Air Resources Board warned that several compounds found in air fresheners and household cleansers can reach harmful concentrations inside homes, with paradichlorobenzene from slow-dissolving air fresheners and toilet-bowl deodorizers posing a particular problem because it releases a chemical (dichlorobenzene or 1,4-DCB) into the air over a long period.

American Lung Association of California spokesperson John Balmes, MD, said while he was surprised by the study, it was in line with several studies that have warned of the respiratory dangers of many household cleaners.

He told the reporter that when his patients ask about air fresheners, "I'd say if you can avoid it, not to use them. I don't see the need to introduce other chemicals into our environment when there're already so many bad actors."

HEALTH IMPACTS OF GLOBAL WARMING LEGISLATIVE BRIEFING A SUCCESS

With a landmark bill to limit greenhouse gas emissions (AB 32, Pavley) pending in the state legislature, the American Lung Association of California held a briefing at the State Capitol on August 8 to educate legislative staff on the health effects of global warming. About 40 legislative staff from 20 assembly and senate offices attended the briefing.

Assembly Member Fran Pavley, author of the bill, opened the briefing and was joined by three experts on air quality and health who addressed the health risks related to elevated levels of smog and toxic pollutants expected with the higher temperatures caused by global warming.

The briefing was part of the American Lung Association of California�s ongoing effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and educate policymakers about the need for measures like AB 32. Staff and volunteers have been writing letters, signing petitions and visiting legislative offices both at the Capitol and in area district offices.

For more information, contact Linda Weiner at 415.282.8871 or linwiner@earthlink.net

ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS PROP. 87: THE BATTLE FOR CLEAN AIR HAS BEGUN

From politicians to Wall Street analysts, everyone is talking about oil prices and the critical need to reduce global warming and air pollution. Proposition 87 gives Californians the opportunity to take action.

The American Lung Association of California is supporting Proposition 87 on the November ballot, which would require oil companies to pay the same drilling fees they pay Alaska and Texas. The funds would be used to invest in cleaner energy alternatives. Prop 87 will reduce California�s air pollution by reducing oil and gas consumption by 25 percent in just 10 years.

For more information, visit www.yeson87.com

SAN DIEGO HOME TO CALIFORNIA�S FIRST SMOKE-FREE FOOTBALL STADIUM

The American Lung Association of California in San Diego joined the Tobacco-Free Communities Coalition in thanking the San Diego City Council, Qualcomm Stadium management, and the San Diego Chargers for its historic move to make Qualcomm Stadium a smoke-free venue. Qualcomm is the first professional football stadium in California to go smoke-free.

This follows several major smoke-free successes in San Diego, including the announcement that PETCO Park, where the San Diego Padres baseball team plays, will be smoke-free.

For more information, contact Molly Bowman-Styles at 619.297.3901 or mbowman@lungsandiego.org

ASSOCIATION SECURES GRANTS TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY

Efforts to improve air quality received a boost recently thanks to a $55,000 grant from the Energy Foundation and a $25,000 grant from the Compton Foundation. The American Lung Association of California secured the funding to step up its efforts to mobilize the public and health organizations to protect California�s zero emission vehicle program, support implementation of the Governor�s Climate Action Team Report and key policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, continue to build the Health Network for Clean Air, assess the public�s understanding of the health impacts of air pollution, and educate key policymakers on climate change and air quality issues.

For more information, contact Paul Knepprath at 916.442.4446 or pknepprath@alac.org

ORDINANCE OUSTS TOXIC POLLUTERS FROM RESIDENTIAL AREAS

The American Lung Association of California in San Diego worked as a member of the National City Asthma Committee on an ordinance that will move toxic polluters out of residential neighborhoods, a victory for environmental justice. The City Council of National City voted unanimously to phase out industrial businesses, giving them a reasonable amount of time to relocate after planned zoning changes occur.

Homes and schools are mixed together with toxic polluting businesses in Old Town National City. The result is severely elevated asthma rates among the children living and going to school there.

To view the news release, visit http://www.environmentalhealth.org/PR_NCAmortOrd_Aug2.htm

For more information, contact Jan Cortez at 619.297.3901 or jan@lungsandiego.org

RESEARCHER STUDIES ACUTE LUNG INJURY

Acute lung injury is a common response to pneumonia and other causes of lung damage. Some patients recover quickly, while others just get worse. A researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, is studying a protein that might protect the lungs from the increased damage and scarring that can result from acute lung injury.

Kamran Atabai, MD, is investigating the protein�s role in a process wherein cells die off when the lung is injured in hopes of finding a way to prevent it. His project is one of 12 funded by the American Lung Association of California, which granted nearly $700,000 to lung disease research in fiscal year 2006-2007.

For more information about funded projects, visit http://californialung.org/research/research.html

RESEARCH CORRECTION The dollar figure invested in research by the American Lung Association of California for fiscal year 2006-2007 was incorrectly stated in the last edition of Breath Matters. The correct figure is nearly $700,000.

ASTHMA WALKS Join an Asthma Walk team or start your own and help raise awareness and support for asthma. To learn more and find a walk near you, visit http://californialung.org/press/030925asthma.html

TELL A FRIEND Forward this e-newsletter to friends, family and business contacts. Encourage them to subscribe for free at http://www.californialung.org. Signing up is easy. Just enter your e-mail address at the upper left corner of the Web site homepage below the logo.

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