Asthma, race, environment

Afro-American children are more likely to suffer from asthma than their Caucasian counterparts in the US due to greater exposure to environmental pollution. Studies show that 7.2 per cent of Afro-American children are prone to asthma whereas in Caucasian children, the figure is 3 per cent. Asthma in children from racial minorities is related to factors such as exposure to dust mites, cockroaches, pets, mould spores, and other toxins prevalent in poor localities. Researchers are trying to find out if a healthy environment can reduce a person's chances of developing asthma ( i>Environmental Health Perspective , Vol 105, No 4).