This e-mailer echoes literally dozens of others, and says what people have been saying in New York to explain the asthma jump here: “I am a

board-certified internist, but I specialize in oncology, rather than

pulmonology. That said, it is clear that asthma can be triggered by

environmental antigens. It is not clear whether cement dust is among those.

Would not surprise me, but am not aware of any good study. What is quite clear

is that cigarette smoke, dust mite and cockroach antigens, both of which are

present at higher levels in the indoors in cities, do contribute to asthma.

Reducing a child’s exposure to these via hygeine program interventions improves

the asthma. If there is indeed a higher rate of asthma in Dallas, these factors

would have to be controlled for first before laying it at the doorstep of

cement. However, I don’t see that any factory should be allowed to pollute air,

if for aesthetic reasons alone.”

Okay, now I’m out of the medical business.