Pollution's Impact: What Children Can Contract

Air pollution is a serious threat to children's health. Children are more vulnerable to the effects of pollution than adults, as they breathe faster and inhale more air per kilogram of body weight. They also have less effective nasal passages, which means they absorb more pollutants from the air. Children are at a higher risk of acute respiratory infections, and their lung capacity can be reduced by up to 20%. Air pollution can also damage children's developing brains and bodies, leading to lifelong health issues.

Children are more vulnerable to viruses, bacteria and infections

Children who breathe polluted air are at higher risk of acute respiratory infections. Those that live in polluted environments can have their lung capacity reduced by 20 per cent. That’s similar to the effect of growing up in a home with secondhand cigarette smoke. Air pollution is associated with pneumonia, which is the largest infectious cause of death in children globally. The first 1,000 days of a baby’s life are a critical period of vulnerability from air pollution. Exposure during this period can alter their physical and cognitive development, which can lead to childhood and adult disorders. Air pollution can also negatively impact the duration of pregnancy and weight of the newborn child.

Children are physiologically unique. They crawl and play on the ground, amidst dirt and dust that may carry a wide variety of toxicants. They often put their hands, toys, and other items into their mouths, ingesting harmful substances. Compared to adults, children typically spend more time outdoors and are more physically active. Time outdoors coupled with faster breathing during exercise increases children’s relative exposure to air pollution.

Air pollution can damage children's lungs, bodies and brains

Children are more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution than adults. They are smaller and breathe faster, inhaling more air per kilogram of their body weight, and their nasal passages are less effective at filtering pollutants. They also tend to spend more time outdoors and are more physically active, and they breathe air that is closer to the ground, which contains more dust and vehicle exhaust fumes.

Air pollution can also affect children's learning, thinking and brain development. It saps their energy, making them tired with less energy to learn and play. When they get sick, they often miss school, further limiting their learning and development and leading to lower academic performance.

The first 1,000 days of a baby's life are a critical period of vulnerability from air pollution. Exposure during this period can alter their physical and cognitive development, which can lead to childhood and adult disorders. Air pollution can also negatively impact the duration of pregnancy and weight of the newborn child.

Children are more likely to put their hands and toys in their mouths, ingesting harmful substances

Children are also more likely to play on the ground, where dirt and dust may carry a wide variety of toxicants. They spend more time outdoors and are more physically active than adults, increasing their relative exposure to air pollution.

Children are still growing, and air pollution can damage their developing lungs, bodies and brains, leading to lifelong health issues. Their immune systems are weaker than adults, so they are more vulnerable to viruses, bacteria and other infections. Air pollution is associated with pneumonia, which is the largest infectious cause of death in children globally. It can also negatively impact the duration of pregnancy and weight of the newborn child.

Children's immune systems are weaker than adults

Children who breathe polluted air are at higher risk of acute respiratory infections, and those that live in polluted environments can have their lung capacity reduced by 20 per cent. This is similar to the effect of growing up in a home with secondhand cigarette smoke. Air pollution is associated with pneumonia, which is the largest infectious cause of death in children globally. The first 1,000 days of a baby’s life are a critical period of vulnerability from air pollution. Exposure during this period can alter their physical and cognitive development, which can lead to childhood and adult disorders. Air pollution can also negatively impact the duration of pregnancy and weight of the newborn child.

In addition to ambient air pollution from traffic, heating, and industry, children’s health is also threatened by other airborne pollutants, like second-hand smoke and chemicals. Children can be exposed to these pollutants both outdoors and indoors. Indoor air pollution (IAP) can significantly affect children's health and well-being. Sources of IAP include some building products and furnishings that release toxic chemicals, materials like some mineral fibres and legacy-asbestos still remaining in buildings, and natural pollutants like radioactive radon. Outdoor air pollution also contributes to indoor air pollution, as does smoking, burning candles, allergens and dust, among others.

Air pollution can weaken children’s immune systems and make existing health conditions worse. The damage air pollution causes isn’t always immediately visible. It builds up over time. Adults who were exposed to air pollution in the womb and as babies and toddlers are sadly likelier to develop respiratory problems later in life. In some cases, the health problems caused by air pollution can lead to children dying. Air pollution can affect children’s learning, thinking and brain development. Breathing polluted air saps children’s energy, making them tired with less energy to learn and play.

Air pollution can lead to childhood and adult disorders

Children are still growing, and air pollution can damage their developing lungs, bodies and brains, leading to lifelong health issues. Their immune systems are weaker than adults, so they’re more vulnerable to viruses, bacteria and other infections. Children are also more physically active than adults, spending more time outdoors, which increases their relative exposure to air pollution.

The first 1,000 days of a baby’s life are a critical period of vulnerability from air pollution. Exposure during this period can alter their physical and cognitive development, which can lead to childhood and adult disorders. Air pollution can also negatively impact the duration of pregnancy and weight of the newborn child.

Children who breathe polluted air are at higher risk of acute respiratory infections. Those that live in polluted environments can have their lung capacity reduced by 20 per cent. That’s similar to the effect of growing up in a home with secondhand cigarette smoke. Air pollution is associated with pneumonia, which is the largest infectious cause of death in children globally.

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