Unlimited opportunities for environmental interventions with inner-city asthmatics

The purpose of this study was to identify the asthmatics living in the Lower West Side (LWS) of Buffalo, New York, and then explore the relationship between urban asthmatic and nonasthmatic exposures to many common household aeroallergens. Eight hundred twenty-eight households were visited and 167 asthmatics and 1 61 nonasthmatics were identified for comparison. Specific self-reported household exposure prevalences were identified for environmental tobacco smoke, sources of molds, household pets, rats, cockroaches, and sources of dust. Sources of molds, pets, and cockroaches were more likely to be found in the homes of asthmatics compared to nonasthmatics (p < 0.05). Other aeroallergens studied, although highly prevalent, were not more likely to be found in either asthmatic or nonasthmatic homes.