Mitigating the Health Effects of Bad Air Quality on Children and Pregnant Women
If you are anywhere on the west coast of the US you have undoubtedly been feeling the effects of the unhealthy air resulting from the monstrous fires in Oregon and California.
Once you know your family is not in immediate harms way from a fire, there are still concerns stemming from continual exposure to bad air quality - even if you are miles away from an actual fire.
But unhealthy air quality is not only limited to the West Coast of the US- unhealthy air quality can come from fires as well as living near highways with high traffic areas and/or industrial areas. Millions around the world deal with unhealthy air quality on a seasonal and even daily basis.
Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to the health effects of bad air pollution especially high PM2.5 pollution. The tiny particulate matters (this is what the “PM” stands for) can go directly into our lungs and enter the blood-gas and placental barriers thus exposing a developing fetus . “Children breathe twice as quickly as adults, and take in more air relative to their body weight. Their respiratory tracks are more permeable and thus more vulnerable. Their immune systems are weaker. Their brains are still developing. “ ( Unicef’s ‘Clear the Air for Children’)
In pregnant women this can lead to:
preterm and increase mortality of preterm infants
air pollution can exert adverse effects on brain maturation
prenatal and neonatal exposure (traffic related air pollution which is different than fire) can result induct behavioral and cognitive impairments
maternal exposure to PM2.4 can increase the risk of congenital hypothyroidism in baby
Children
children with allergies or asthma are extremely sensitive to PM 2.5 and breathing in this type of pollution will aggravate allergies and asthma
Studies have shown that air pollution is strongly associated with respiratory conditions such as pneumonia, bronchitis and asthma, among others
Children’s lungs are in the process of growing and developing, making them especially vulnerable to polluted air. The cell layer on the inside of the respiratory tract is more permeable among young children. and their respiratory airways are also smaller than adult airways, so infections are more likely to cause blockages than in adults.
Children’s immune systems are still developing, making them more susceptible to viruses, bacteria and other infections.
signs of effects include: runny nose, coughing, sneezing, difficulty breathing, a tight chest, or stinging, watery and red eyes,
How do I know how bad the air quality is outside?
Some pages I rely on are:
https://www.iqair.com/us/world-air-quality
https://www.airnow.gov/
What to do
Restrict outdoor activities; stay inside & close doors
If a child or pregnant women must venture outside, wear an N95 safety mask which covers the mouth and nose. Common clothes masks used for COvid will not suffice in protecting from PM2.5 particles (KN94 masks work too)
If you can: purchase a high quality air filter. more on that tomorrow- but it is worth considering as a long term investment since fire season is not going away anytime soon. This is a chronic yearly problem for most especially if you live in the West coast of the US (or area affected by bad air pollution)
Hydration: keep the little ones more hydrated than normal - This will keep your nose and mouth moist, which makes it easier to breathe.
focus on immune boosting foods: research has shown links between what we eat and our levels of protection against air pollution. Focus on:
antioxidants, which protect against the free radicals produced as a result of toxic air particles entering our bodies Vitamin C rich produce like berries, citrus, blackcurrants, kale, kiwis & broccoli
Omega-3 fatty acids to the reduction of inflammation and oxidative stress caused by air pollution. Ex: salmon, oysters, sardines, flaxseeds, chia seeds
Vitamin E: avocado and spinach, both high in vitamin E, can help to counteract the effects of certain types of particulate pollution.
sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6132565/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6138768/