A study into the health effects of winter air pollution has revealed that it does not cause serious problems for young people.
Research by the University of Otago in Christchurch examined the respiratory and physiological effects of air pollution on the lung function of 93 male secondary students during one winter.
Lead investigator Michael Epton says the study showed air pollution does not cause serious health problems for adolescents.
Dr Epton says only students with asthma were noticeably affected during very high pollution days, and even then caused only small decreases in their lung function.
He says a study into the impact of air pollution on older adults with bronchitis or asthma may find more serious effects.
