Living Near Freeways with kids (I-5, 425, I-90). Health Issues.

[shaylahc]

Originally Posted by Blondebaerde

May wish to discuss with an allergist. I went to one, finally, last November and was diagnosed with various mild allergies plus an equally-mild case of asthma. He put me on a couple low-dosage meds that cleared all that up. Others could be so lucky, I was very pleased. Taking that daily is a drag, I'm not a pill and potion kind of person, but it is what it is to manage (not cure) chronic issues.

Most-intriguing was what I was allergic too: largely tree and plant pollens, less-so dust mites and cats (I have two cats & have lived with-same for decades).

BTW, nearest freeway to me is I405, .75 miles crosswind (N-S prevailing) and down slope.

I have an air filter in my bedroom, bought form Amazon for a couple hundred bucks several years ago. I don't have data per se that it's clearing the air, that being before-and-after air samples. But given my pets and the usual dust in a home, the filter does indeed collect a lot of (all that). The air definitely tastes and smells more-neutral in my house, and that's important to me for a good night's sleep.

As for living near freeways, would probably cross reference air particulate studies in-particular that might be useful/helpful. Hopefully that data exists in our area, if someone actually wants it (and can use a bit of scientific method, correlating rising particulate levels w/allergies). I'd be equally curious what, if-any, heavy metals and other industrial byproducts (like sulphur dioxide) are/are-not diffusing into both ground and rainwater. And, how/if that does/does-not correlate to other health problems?

I worry about pollution in Seattle. Not only do we have the toxic fallout from Fukushima, but we have a Naval base nearby and who knows what kind of stuff ends up in the water because of military exercises, etc. I know that our local orcas are so full of contaminants that they have to be disposed of as biohazard. We are also the MS capital of the US (Multiple Sclerosis) and we have one of the highest breast cancer rates in the country.

I came from Charlotte, NC, and my asthma was worse there. I have had relatively little asthma here. My allergies are worse, though. I take Zyrtec daily and it doesn't help. I am allergic to mold (ha!) and pretty much all the crap that grows around here. So I'm always snotty and sniffling.

I have Lupus, and after moving here 2 of my children developed autoimmune diseases. Coincidence? It's hard to say. I am definitely concerned about the environment and its effect on our health.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by shaylahc

I worry about pollution in Seattle. Not only do we have the toxic fallout from Fukushima, but we have a Naval base nearby and who knows what kind of stuff ends up in the water because of military exercises, etc. I know that our local orcas are so full of contaminants that they have to be disposed of as biohazard. We are also the MS capital of the US (Multiple Sclerosis) and we have one of the highest breast cancer rates in the country.

I came from Charlotte, NC, and my asthma was worse there. I have had relatively little asthma here. My allergies are worse, though. I take Zyrtec daily and it doesn't help. I am allergic to mold (ha!) and pretty much all the crap that grows around here. So I'm always snotty and sniffling.

I have Lupus, and after moving here 2 of my children developed autoimmune diseases. Coincidence? It's hard to say. I am definitely concerned about the environment and its effect on our health.

My mother moved here from the San Francisco Bay Area where she suffered from allergies all her life.
They bought in the Sequim/Port Angeles area, and within a month no allergies, same now for 13 years.
It depends on what you are allergic to. Bad as the smog may be now in the hot summer, it's still cleaner than the best days in may other cities. We actually have no mold here but did in CA, because there it rained less but more at once. Your doctor can order an allergy evaluation, if you have problems with grasses, fir trees, you might be better off elsewhere.