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Historically it was believed ambient air pollution causes asthma. Yet as air pollution in major cities has declined over the last few decades, asthma rates have continued a dramatic climb. While high smog levels can increase the number of asthma attacks -- that is, the experience of symptoms by those who already have asthma -- the claim that ambient air pollution causes asthma is a non-starter. (As I understand it, though, the jury is still out on whether some common components of indoor air pollution play a role.)
Despite these facts, Senator Kerry and some of his supporters want to blame President Bush for the asthma epidemic. This is absurd, as is Kerry's claim that he will end the epidemic as President. NR editor Rich Lowry discusses this issue further in his latest column.
JFK personifies the idiocy of the old canard, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help". Help themselves to the leavings in the hog slop trough is more like it.
Posted by: Dwight at August 10, 2004 10:28 PMEven if one accepted every other basis for Kerry's accusation, it would still make _no sense_. The rise was in progress before Bush was elected. It will continue after he leaves, whether that happens in 2005 or 2009. Even if the link between air pollution and athsma were 100% proven correct (which is far from the case, but I'm not going to argue that point right now), decisions made on the FIRST DAY of the Bush administration would not show up in statistically significant changes until YEARS after the end of it.
Posted by: Matt at August 11, 2004 04:52 AMThere is an alternative theory concerning asthma. Asthma and other allergic reactions are the result of living conditions that are too clean. This creates conditions whereby the immune system reacts to normal background pollutants.
I am no expert but were this to be the case, the "precautionary principle adherents" would be the most likely culprits.
Posted by: Jon at August 11, 2004 11:08 AM