Researchers at the Centre for Research on Inner City Health in Toronto investigated whether low socioeconomic status (SES) or high parental stress modified the effect of traffic related pollution (TRP) and in utero tobacco smoke exposure on new onset asthma. The primary findings determined that the risk of asthma attributable to TRP was significantly higher for subjects with high parental stress than for subjects with low parental stress. Stress also was associated with larger effects of in utero tobacco smoke. A similar pattern of increased risk of asthma was observed among children from low SES families who also were exposed to either TRP or in utero tobacco smoke. These results suggest that children from stressful households are more susceptible to the effects of TRP and in utero tobacco smoke on the development of asthma. To read the full text of the study, click here.