The impact of smog on the child

Consultation:
November 20 2023
Why you can trust us
Information about advertising
In this article you will learn:

    The impact of smog on children's health is the subject of many scientific studies and social discussions - children who breathe polluted air are exposed to a number of dangerous health complications. How can smog and suspended dust affect a child's health? During the heating season, parents are concerned not only by the increasing level of pollution, but also by the dry air in the child's room, which may worsen many troublesome ailments. 

    In today's article, we will tell you how to easily and effectively clean and humidify the air in your child's room, as well as improve the quality of life and health of the entire family.

    What is smog? Why children are more likely to be negative the impact of suspended dust on health?

    Smog is an atmospheric phenomenon that occurs when there is high air pollution accompanied by unfavorable atmospheric and environmental conditions, including: fog, low air temperature, lack of wind, terrain. The main component of smog is suspended dust: PM2,5 and PM10. Smog may also contain substances hazardous to health gases and toxic substances, including: 

    • sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2),
    • benzene (C6H6),
    • carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen monoxide (NO),
    • ozone (O3)
    • aromatic hydrocarbons.

    Negative impact of suspended dust on human health it is observed especially in the autumn and winter season, in large urban agglomerations and along busy communication routes. Why is the impact of smog on children's health more severe than in the case of adults?

    Expert advises

    Children have an immature immune system, and suspended dust additionally sticks to the mucous membrane of the respiratory system, impairing its natural ability to defend against microorganisms. Also, other protective barriers of the body, including the skin or the blood-brain barrier in a child, are not yet fully mature, and smog and suspended dust may significantly disturb their proper development. The impact of smog on children's health is intensified because children breathe up to twice as fast as adults, which causes them to inhale even more pollutants from the air. Unfortunately, smog and suspended dust penetrate into our homes and children's rooms, posing an additional daily health threat.

    Jolanta Wacławek
    Pediatrician in the One-Day Hospitalization Department, Institute of Mother and Child

    The impact of smog on a child's health: these symptoms should worry parents

    The negative impact of particulate matter on health does not only affect the respiratory system, but it does systemic effect. Smog particles and suspended dust PM10 and PM2,5, penetrating the lungs, stimulate the massive release of cytokines, which penetrate the circulatory system and trigger a generalized inflammatory response in the child's body.

    The impact of smog on a child's health may have long-term effects on health, and it manifests itself in the form of quite a lot on a daily basis characteristic ailments mine.:

    • respiratory problems: wheezing, coughing fits, recurrent infections of the general and lower respiratory tract, permanent runny nose and nasal congestion
    • redness and irritation of the eyes
    • frequent headaches, problems with memory and concentration
    • sleep disturbance
    • irritability or drowsiness and constant lack of energy
    • recurrent skin problems, including: hives, dry skin, worsening of atopic dermatitis symptoms

    If parents observe one or more of the above-mentioned symptoms in their child, the culprit may be the impact of suspended dust on health, as well as too dry air in the child's room, especially during the heating season. It is worth consulting any disturbing ailments with a doctor and focusing on factors over which we have direct influence, e.g. how to clean and humidify the air in the child's room, e.g. by purchasing an air purifier with a humidification function.

    How to limit the impact of smog and suspended dust on children's health: basic principles

    • Let's monitor air quality every day in our area and avoid spending long periods of time outdoors with your child on days when the air quality is extremely poor. Current data on air quality can be found on the websites of many government institutions, including: Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection;
    • Let's limit the impact of suspended dust on a child's health. Choosing green areas for recreation, as far away from the city center and main communication routes as possible;

    Expert advises

    Let's take care of the quality and humidification of the air at home. Not only polluted, but also too dry air in a child's room can cause many disturbing symptoms, including: eye irritation, intensification of skin lesions, and coughing attacks.

    Jolanta Wacławek
    Pediatrician in the One-Day Hospitalization Department, Institute of Mother and Child

    As you can see, too dry air in a child's room can have many negative health effects - how to humidify the air in a child's room and at the same time clean it of dangerous pollutants?

    It's best to decide on efficient air purifier with humidification function. Thanks to this, the air is humidified and purified at the same time.

    • It is worth checking whether they exist in the nursery, kindergarten or school systems for monitoring and improving air quality in classrooms. Let's remind teachers and guardians not to take children outside on days when the air quality is extremely poor.

    Jak humidify the too dry air in the child's room and effectively get rid of smog? 

    Choose operational efficiency

    Air purification and humidification are just as important in a child's bedroom as in the living room where the child plays and spends time with the family.

    Parents often worry that they won't be able to set the device's optimal parameters themselves. How can you purify and humidify the dry air in your child's room? It's worth choosing an air purifier with a humidification function, which has an intuitive and simple control system.

    How can I humidify the air in my child's room based on current humidity and air quality measurements? When automatic mode is selected, some devices automatically adjust all settings to the current air quality in the room—no worries for parents.

    There is clean, properly humidified air in the house valid all year round. Sometimes such a simple solution as purchasing a good quality air purifier with a humidification function can significantly improve the health of children as well as the quality of life of other family members.

     

    Medical consultation

    Jolanta Wacławek
    Pediatrician in the One-Day Hospitalization Department, Institute of Mother and Child

    Become part of our parenting community!

    By subscribing to the newsletter, you will receive access to free eBooks and inspiring letters full of thoughts, experiences, and recommendations from experts that will help you in your everyday parenting.