It comes from both natural and, particularly, man-made sources, which include everything from road traffic and residential heating exhausts, through to factory chimney stacks and a wide variety of other sources (EEA, 2022a, 2022c). Infographic on children's exposure to air pollutionĪmbient air pollution and children: sources and exposureĪir pollution is the contamination of indoor or outdoor air by any agent that modifies its natural characteristics. Figure 1 illustrates key characteristics of children’s and adolescents’ vulnerability and exposure to air pollution. Furthermore, children’s developing immune systems are weaker than those of adults, strengthening the effects of pollution (WHO, 2018). Children’s bodies and organs, including their lungs, are also still in development (Chen et al., 2015), which further increases risk. Due to this increased oral breathing, pollution penetrates deep into the lower respiratory tract, which is more permeable (US EPA, 2019). Moreover, children inhale a larger fraction of air through their mouths than adults. Their acquired dose of pollution is also elevated since they breathe faster and are often more physically active (Osborne et al., 2021). Because of their lower physical height, they breathe air closer to the ground where some pollutants, especially from traffic exhausts, are emitted and become concentrated. ![]() Children’s breathing rates are higher than those of adults and they also take in more air per kilogram of body weight. There are many factors that make children and adolescents especially vulnerable to air pollution. That is especially true for air pollution, the largest environmental risk for children in Europe. Children and adolescents are more susceptible than adults to most adverse environmental factors in some cases they may be more exposed than adults too (Valent et al., 2004) and they can do little to change the situation or protect themselves. Though most children across EEA member countries are healthy (Eurostat, 2019 WHO, 2023), there are reasons for concern regarding environmental risks to their health. Protecting children’s health is frequently cited as a key objective in major policies on climate and the environment such as the zero pollution action plan (European Commission, 2020). Children and adolescents cannot protect themselves from air pollution, or vote for or influence relevant policies only adults can do it for them, and it is urgent.Ĭhildren and air pollution: understanding the problem.Improving air quality in around schools and kindergartens, in other child-centric settings, and during activities like school commutes and sports, can help reduce exposure.Air quality policies should protect the health of children and adolescents by explicitly taking into account differences in their biology and exposure pathways. ![]()
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