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 new born baby only has twenty per cent of an adults 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 which, 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 school yards during play time and other activities , while the adults are usually ensconced in closed offices for large portions of the day. In all this, its extremely essential for parents to be aware of the air quality around their child.
During pregnancy, expectant parents need to ensure that they have a conducive air quality at home. The latest research shows that even your unborn baby is at the risk of facing air pollution. Women need to be careful when stepping out as a car’s deadly exhaust fumes can result in premature birth. Air pollution is powerful enough to create myriad problems for premature and weak infants which can certainly be avoided with steps to better manage air quality. As far as outdoor pollution is concerned, our government needs to act swiftly and responsibly. Unfortunately indoor pollution is worse than outdoors. A parent needs to be able to manage indoor pollutants to help their child have clean and healthy lungs.
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 cleansing 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.
Discussion about this post