Outdoor Asthma Triggers

Pollution caused by industrial emissions and automobile exhaust can cause an asthma attack. Pay attention to air quality forecasts on radio, television, and Internet and if air pollution aggravates your asthma, plan your activities for times when air pollution levels will be low.

CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health

Our people at the National Center for Environmental Health are working to prevent illness, disability, and death from interactions between people and the environment.

• Air Pollution and Respiratory Health—Outdoor Air Pollution Here you will find information about asthma and indoor and outdoor air pollution from Federal, state, and private resources.
• Respiratory Health and Air Pollution Transportation-related pollutants are one of the largest contributors to unhealthy air quality, especially among children with asthma.

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)external icon

This federal agency informs people about the environment and develops and enforces regulations about the environment. EPA’s mission is to protect human health and the environment. Here you will find information about outdoor air pollution and steps you can take to protect yourself:

• AIRNowexternal icon This site offers air quality information by state and cities, air quality forecasts and corresponding health effects, ozone maps, air pollution publications, and steps you can take to reduce air pollution.
• Asthma and Outdoor Air Pollution pdf icon[PDF – 499 KB]external icon This fact sheet provides information for people with asthma on understanding and using outdoor air quality warnings.