Effects of air pollution on kids: A parental guide

Air pollution is an inevitable part of our lives today. Our polluted air has everyone gasping and struggling for fresh air. In worse situations, people have decreased sleep, decreased work performance and even suffer from lung disease and cancer. In all this life-threatening and dangerously smoggy atmosphere, our children are the worst hit. The lungs of small children are not fully developed.

A newborn baby only has twenty percent of an adult's lung mass which is only complete in his or her teenage years when a child’s lungs are strong enough to somewhat bear the onslaught of pollution. Because of the child’s underdeveloped lungs, they tend to breathe rather quickly and inhale more of the pollutants than a fully grown human being. A child’s ability to fight off the effects of air pollution is also much lesser than an adult’s.

Also, the immunity of a child is not so well developed to be able to manage infections. This results in respiratory problems linked to air pollution such as asthma. Because of this, the overall health of a child gets severely affected. A child who is still developing can have serious health issues owing to air pollution compared to an adult. Our children are more exposed to the outdoors in parks, playgrounds, and schoolyards during playtime and other activities, while the adults are usually ensconced in closed offices for large portions of the day. In all this, it is extremely essential for parents to be aware of the air quality around their child.
However dismal the scene may be, there is still hope.

Parents can go the extra mile by ensuring that their home is squeaky clean and free of any common allergens such as dust, pollen and pet dander. Removal of carpets and rugs would also be a great way to keep your home germ free. Harsh chemicals found in household cleaning agents should be avoided and Vinegar would make a good option.

Finally, good ventilation, filtering the air and opening a few windows will greatly help in reducing pollution.

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