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Asthma is a common disease among New York City's children and adults. Over the past two decades the number of New Yorkers with asthma has increased. It is the leading cause of missed school among children and is the most common cause of hospitalization for children 14 years and younger. For adults, asthma causes missed work, emergency department visits, and limitation of activity. NYC asthma hospitalization rates are higher than the national average and significant disparities exist among who is affected.
To study the relationship between asthma and other respiratory illness hospitalizations, air pollution and weather, New York University School of Medicine (NYUSM) is partnering with the Fund for Public Health in New York (FPHNY) and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to monitor emergency department visits and ambulance dispatches vis-a-vis weather and ambient air quality data.
Federal grant funding is enabling the team to examine spatial and socio-economic factors that influence vulnerability to extreme weather and air pollution in a diverse city. The results of this study will contribute to DOHMH's efforts to identify vulnerable subpopulations and contributors to environmental health risks, and has the potential to help shape the city's environmental health policies.
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| In December 2006, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced PlaNYC, the most sweeping plan to enhance New York City's urban environment in modern history. Five dimensions of the city's environment are being targeted - land, air, water, energy and transportation - to ensure a sustainable future for all New Yorkers. To read more about PlaNYC click here.
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