Public Health and Environment
Children's Environmental Health - Outdoor Air Quality
While exposure to air pollution causes adverse health effects in most people, children are especially susceptible to these effects. Children spend significantly more time outdoors, especially in the summertime when ozone levels are the highest.
-American Lung Association
Resources
Action Steps
- Keep an eye on your child's health. Look for warning signs of undiagnosed asthma, such as coughing regularly, and shortness of breath when exercising, and share your observations with your pediatrician. Children with asthma are especially sensitive to air pollution.
- If your child does have asthma, learn to recognize what triggers his or her attacks, and help plan to avoid those substances. One of the problems with ozone air pollution is that it can sensitize asthmatics, so that on bad air days they react more strongly to triggers than usual.
- Keep track of air pollution levels. If the air quality is unhealthy, try to limit the amount of time your child spends outdoors in vigorous play. Plan the most strenuous activities for the early morning hours, before ozone levels climb. Keep all outdoor activities as far as possible from busy roadways and other sources of pollution.
- Make sure your child's coaches and camp directors are aware of the health risks of air pollution, and have policies in place to protect the kids when air quality is unhealthy. If your child has asthma, it is important that these care-givers know he or she is especially vulnerable on high ozone days.
- Speak out in support of clean air. Community leaders need to hear from people who are concerned about the toll air pollution is taking on the health of our children.
-American Lung Association
