Growing Up Near Traffic Boosts Kids' Cancer Risk

Study indicates that kids suffer from living near exhaust
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 10, 2013 2:21 PM CDT
Growing Up Near Traffic Boosts Kids' Cancer Risk
Growing up near traffic might have health consequences.   (Shutterstock)

Living near traffic may be even worse for kids than previously believed, a new study suggests. California researchers ranked parts of the state based on their exhaust-related pollution, studied their populations, and found that kids from the more polluted areas were at a greater risk for certain childhood cancers, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the LA Times reports.

While the cancers studied are all fairly rare, and the risk low, the bump is significant, with risk rising as much as 17% for one type of cancer. The researchers stressed, however, that their results are still preliminary. Previous research has linked traffic-related pollution to asthma and allergies as well. (More California stories.)

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