May marks Asthma Awareness Month, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is using this opportunity to highlight programs across the nation that are providing exceptional asthma care. It is estimated that 25 million Americans, including four million children, live with this condition.
According to an EPA news release, asthma disproportionately impacts certain racial and ethnic groups. The economic toll associated with direct and indirect costs exceeds $80 billion per year due to work or school absences. Furthermore, the EPA is channeling billions of dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act towards aiding schools and communities in purchasing clean school buses and heavy-duty vehicles. This initiative aims to reduce air pollution caused by older diesel engines, which has been linked to asthma.
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan shared his personal experience with respiratory challenges growing up in North Carolina. He said, "Asthma is a public health issue, an economic issue, and an environmental issue that impacts the entire country, especially low-income and minority communities." Regan emphasized the EPA's commitment to reducing harmful pollution and raising awareness about available tools for communities to manage asthma symptoms effectively.
The news release also stated that minority and low-income communities would receive support from the EPA through initiatives aimed at mitigating pollution that contributes to asthma. The agency outlined three strategies for controlling asthma symptoms: creating a personalized asthma action plan; identifying and avoiding indoor environmental triggers; and monitoring outdoor air quality.
The EPA plans to recognize innovative asthma management programs for their in-home interventions through the National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management, according to the news release. The 2024 recipient of this award is the Maine Asthma Prevention and Control Program. This program provides leadership and coordination for statewide asthma care and service delivery through its In-Home Asthma Education Program - a home-based initiative designed for individuals with uncontrolled asthma symptoms despite adequate medical management.
