Kiera Jefferson
Air pollution is a leading cause of various health issues in both children and adults. However, children are more susceptible to the adverse effects of air pollution due to various physiological and behavioural factors. Children are at a higher risk of acute respiratory infections, asthma, and decreased lung function due to exposure to air pollution. They are more vulnerable to air pollution as their bodies, organs, and immune systems are still developing. Their breathing rates are higher, and they inhale more air per unit of body mass than adults, increasing the dose of toxic substances in their airways and lungs. Prenatal exposure to air pollution can also lead to adverse respiratory outcomes and low birth weight.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Physiological factors | Children have a higher breathing rate, breathe more air per unit of body mass, and have less efficient nasal filtering than adults |
| Behavioural factors | Children are more likely to be mouth breathers, which increases the dose of toxic substances in their airways and lungs |
| Immature immune system | Air pollutants can compromise the child's immune system, making them more susceptible to developing acute lower respiratory infections |
| Exposure during pregnancy | Prenatal exposure to air pollution can contribute to adverse respiratory outcomes, impaired lung function, and low birth weight |
| Exposure during development | Children's developing lungs, immune systems, and metabolic systems are at risk from air pollution, which can increase the risk of asthma and other respiratory issues |
| Environmental exposure | Children spend more time outdoors and breathe air closer to the ground, putting them in closer proximity to sources of pollution like dust and vehicle exhaust |
| Household air pollution | More than 70% of deaths in children under 5 due to air pollution were linked to household air pollution from cooking with polluting fuels |
| Increased vulnerability | Children's bodies and organs, including their lungs, are still developing, which increases their risk of health issues from air pollution |
| Geographic location | The risk of adverse health outcomes from air pollution varies in different geographic regions depending on the source of pollution, duration of exposure, and concentration |
What You'll Learn
Children's higher breathing rate
Children are more susceptible to air pollution than adults due to a variety of physiological and behavioural factors. One of the main factors is their higher breathing rate. Children breathe faster and take in more air per unit of body mass than adults. This results in a higher acquired dose of pollution, as children's lungs are exposed to a larger volume of polluted air.
The median respiratory rate in infants is 44 breaths per minute at birth, declining steeply to 26 breaths per minute by age two. This higher breathing rate, combined with their smaller body size, means that children inhale a larger amount of air relative to their body weight. They are therefore more susceptible to the harmful effects of air pollutants, which can have both immediate and long-term impacts on their health.
Young children also tend to be mouth breathers, with less efficient nasal filtering abilities than adults. This further increases the amount of pollutants that reach their lungs. The pollutants penetrate deep into the lower respiratory tract, causing damage and increasing the risk of infections.
Additionally, children spend more time outdoors, breathing air closer to the ground where pollutants from traffic exhausts and dust are concentrated. They are also more physically active, which increases their breathing rate even further. These factors all contribute to children's higher exposure to air pollutants and the subsequent health risks associated with them.
The effects of air pollution on children's respiratory health are well-documented. Studies have linked air pollution to an increased prevalence of asthma, respiratory infections, and deficits in lung function and growth. It is also associated with illness-related school absenteeism and an increased risk of chronic diseases later in life. Therefore, it is crucial to address air pollution and implement measures to protect children from its harmful effects.
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Immature immune systems
Children are more susceptible to air pollution illnesses due to various physiological and behavioural factors. One of the key reasons is that children have immature and developing immune systems, which are weaker than those of adults. This makes them more vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollutants.
Children's immune systems are still maturing and are not as robust as those of adults. Their bodies, including their lungs, brains, and other organs, are in a critical stage of growth and development. This makes them more susceptible to the toxic effects of air pollution, which can have both immediate and long-term consequences on their health.
The immature immune system of children is less effective at combating the harmful substances they inhale. Air pollutants can compromise the inflammatory mechanism in the airways, making children more susceptible to respiratory infections. For example, exposure to air pollutants can interfere with the function of epithelial cells lining the alveoli, which are responsible for generating an inflammatory response against pathogens. This disruption can lead to an increased risk of developing acute lower respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, which is a leading cause of paediatric mortality worldwide.
Additionally, children have a higher breathing rate than adults and breathe more air per unit of body mass. They also tend to be mouth breathers, which means that pollution penetrates deeper into their lower respiratory tract, causing further damage. The combination of immature immune systems and higher air intake increases the toxic load in their airways and lungs, making them more susceptible to air pollutant illnesses.
The impact of air pollution on children's health can vary depending on geographical region, duration of exposure, and concentration of pollutants. However, overall, children's immature immune systems and unique physiological characteristics make them more vulnerable to the adverse effects of air pollution, highlighting the importance of implementing measures to improve air quality and protect their health.
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Behavioural factors
Children are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of air pollution due to various behavioural factors. Behavioural factors play a significant role in exposing children to harmful pollutants, leading to an increased risk of illnesses and adverse health outcomes.
Firstly, children tend to spend more time outdoors engaging in physical activities such as play. This prolonged exposure to outdoor air pollution, especially in areas with high levels of pollutants, increases their risk of respiratory illnesses. Young children also tend to breathe more rapidly than adults, taking in more air relative to their body weight. This higher breathing rate means they inhale more pollutants, which can have acute and chronic effects on their developing respiratory and cardio-respiratory systems.
Secondly, children often breathe air that is closer to the ground, which puts them in closer proximity to sources of pollution like dust and vehicle exhaust. This proximity to ground-level pollutants further increases their exposure to harmful substances.
Thirdly, behavioural factors related to household practices can also contribute to children's susceptibility to air pollution illnesses. Household air pollution, caused by activities such as cooking with polluting fuels, burning waste, or using inefficient stoves, has been linked to respiratory infections and illnesses in children. In low and middle-income countries, domestic fuel burning can significantly contribute to ambient air pollution, with limited options for families to reduce their exposure.
Furthermore, behavioural factors related to cultural practices can also play a role. Certain cultural traditions or habits may increase exposure to air pollution, such as the use of open fires or specific cooking methods. Children from diverse cultural backgrounds may be more susceptible to the adverse health effects of air pollution due to these behavioural and cultural factors.
Overall, behavioural factors that influence children's exposure to air pollution, both outdoors and indoors, significantly contribute to their increased susceptibility to air pollutant illnesses. These factors, combined with their developing organs and immune systems and higher breathing rates, make children particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollution.
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Proximity to pollutants
Children are more susceptible to illnesses caused by air pollutants due to various factors that increase their proximity to pollutants. Firstly, children have a higher breathing rate than adults and breathe more air per unit of body mass. This means that they inhale a larger volume of polluted air, increasing their exposure to toxic substances. Additionally, children tend to be mouth breathers, and their nasal passages are less effective at filtering out pollutants, further enhancing their exposure to harmful substances.
Secondly, children often spend more time outdoors and breathe air closer to the ground, where pollutants, especially from traffic exhaust, are emitted and become concentrated. Their acquired dose of pollution is elevated due to their faster breathing rate and higher physical activity levels. This increased oral breathing allows pollution to penetrate deeper into the lower respiratory tract, which is more permeable. Therefore, the proximity to pollutants near the ground and the increased inhalation of polluted air contribute to the higher susceptibility of children to air pollutant illnesses.
Thirdly, children spend a significant amount of time indoors, where they are exposed to household air pollution. Household air pollution is caused by various factors, including cooking with polluting fuels, secondhand smoke, and waste-related emissions. In developing countries, the magnitude of risk from poor air quality is much higher, and over 70% of deaths in children under five due to air pollution are linked to household air pollution. Therefore, both outdoor and indoor proximity to pollutants significantly impact children's health.
Furthermore, children's developing immune systems are weaker than those of adults, making them more susceptible to the adverse effects of air pollution. Their lungs, brains, and other organs are still growing and developing, increasing their vulnerability to toxic substances. As a result, air pollutants can cause respiratory infections, asthma, impaired lung function, and even increase the risk of adult chronic diseases later in life. Therefore, the combination of higher breathing rates, proximity to ground-level pollutants, indoor pollution exposure, and weaker immune systems makes children more susceptible to air pollutant illnesses.
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Long-term health risks
Children are more susceptible to the adverse effects of air pollution due to various physiological and behavioural factors. They are at a higher risk of acute respiratory infections, asthma, and decreased lung function due to air pollution exposure. The risk varies depending on the region, the source of air pollution, the duration of exposure, and concentration.
Children's developing immune systems are weaker than those of adults, strengthening the effects of pollution. They are more susceptible to developing acute lower respiratory infections as air pollutants compromise their immune system's inflammatory mechanism, which is essential for fighting pathogens in the respiratory tract. Globally, pneumonia is the leading infectious disease causing paediatric mortality, especially in children under five.
Prenatal exposure to air pollution can also contribute to adverse respiratory outcomes later in life. Poor air quality is associated with impaired lung growth and lower respiratory tract infections. Disruptions to the lungs' functional growth and repair mechanisms can render them more susceptible to acute respiratory infections and asthma during childhood. Children born to mothers exposed to air pollution during pregnancy are more likely to have a low birth weight, increasing the complications for infection and cardio-respiratory abnormalities.
The magnitude of risk is much higher in children in developing countries compared to those in developed nations. Day-to-day changes in the levels of criteria air pollutants (PM10, SO2, NO2, and O3) have been associated with illness-related absenteeism in schools. Long-term exposure to ambient ozone levels has also been linked to illness-related school absences. Children exposed to high levels of air pollution may face an increased risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease later in life.
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Frequently asked questions
Children are more susceptible to air pollution due to a combination of physiological and behavioural factors. They breathe more often, breathe through their mouths more often, and have less efficient nasal filtering, all of which increase the amount of pollutants entering their bodies. They also tend to be more physically active and spend more time outdoors, exposing them to more pollutants, especially from traffic exhausts.
Air pollution has been linked to a range of adverse health effects in children, including acute respiratory infections, asthma, decreased lung function, pneumonia, and an increased risk of chronic diseases later in life, such as cardiovascular disease.
Air pollutants can compromise the immune system's inflammatory response to pathogens in the respiratory tract, making children more susceptible to developing acute lower respiratory infections. It can also disrupt the lungs' functional growth and repair mechanisms, further increasing their susceptibility to respiratory infections and asthma.
Yes, exposure to air pollution during childhood can have long-term effects on health. Children exposed to high levels of air pollution may be at greater risk for chronic diseases later in life, such as cardiovascular disease. Prenatal exposure to air pollution may also contribute to adverse respiratory outcomes and impaired lung function later in life.
Improving air quality in child-centric settings, such as schools and kindergartens, can help reduce children's exposure. On a larger scale, transitioning to cleaner modes of transport and energy sources can also help reduce overall air pollution levels.
