Walking into the patient room, with its brightly colored walls with those plastic toys that are easy to wipe down. Billy, who is now 6 years old, sits on the exam table with the crinkly tissue paper, transformer action figure in hand. Billy’s mom just opposite him.
We greet each other warmly and Billy and I high-five as we have always done for years.
“What am I seeing you for today Billy?”
Billy shrugs and looks at this mother. His mother replies “I am concerned, Billy has always been a bright kid, but he is having a really difficult time learning math. We have tried resource and tutoring, he makes some progress, but he is still so far behind. We just want to know what we can do to help him?”
I look to Billy who has now become ever-so-interested in all the intricacies of his Transformer and refuses to make eye contact.
“I am so glad you came in today,” I say with a smile at Billy and his mom. “Let’s see what we can do.”
We talk about health risks in the family, genetics. We skip to health habits, Billy loves to play outside and gets exercise, his diet could use more fruits and veggies.
“Oh, and do you know the how much air pollution Billy is exposed to per day?”
A pause. Billy’s mom stares at me as though I misspoke.
I repeat, “How is the air quality where you live? Remind me your zip code?”
She rattles off her ZIP code and it is in a rough part of town. I review the ZIP codes exposed to some of the highest rates of pollution in the Salt Lake Valley. Billy’s home is near the top of the list.
“Dr. Tiller, I don’t understand, why are you asking about air? Why are you asking about where we live? With all respect, I don’t know why any of that matters?”
I pause and my mind races. How do I tell her that her son’s learning difficulty and brain development are likely impacted by air quality specifically in their ZIP code? Billy is being exposed to higher levels of air pollutants, which are neurotoxic especially on a developing brain. I scribble on my prescription pad recommendations, stop being poor. Move to a wealthy neighborhood. Breathe less “bad air.”
As a future pediatrician, I know this is the reality for many of my patients. We know this. The latest research has shown a link between air pollution exposure with poor academic performance in children.
In our own state of Utah, a study done in Salt Lake County researched the level of exposure to air pollution for children at school. Results of this study have shown a “Disproportionate exposure in public schools based on race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (which) is concerning given that air pollution has negative impacts on children’s health and academic performance.”
I have spent most of my life in school training to become a doctor for these little ones. Children are the most vulnerable of populations. Every child should be able to breathe clean air no matter where they live, the money in their parent’s bank or the color of their skin. They look to us, the adults, to raise our voices to the change makers.
In a state that professes protecting children, we must do better. We must focus on issues that truly harm our children. Our children are being exposed to neurotoxins that will impact their entire life. In my professional opinion, that sounds a hell of a lot more dangerous than a drag queen.
Jenna Marie Tiller
Jenna Marie Tiller, Murray, is a fourth-year medical student at The Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at The University of Utah. Born and raised in Salt Lake City, she will begin her pediatric residency training in July.
