|
|
WHY TRACK PARTICULATE MATTER 2.5?
Living in Urban AreasA 1993 children's health study began tracking the effects of urban air pollution on fourth graders from a dozen communities in Los Angeles. Over the course of eight years, the study followed the lung function of these children in relation to the levels of air pollutants, specifically PM2.5, in each community. By the time they reached 18, children who had grown up in high PM2.5 areas were about five times more likely to experience significant deffects in lung capacity compared to those raised in areas with lower pollution levels. However, children who moved to neighborhoods with cleaner air during the study saw some recovery in their lung function. On the other hand, those who were unable to move showed little to no improvement in lung growth or breathing after the age of 18. As a result, they faced greater difficulty with physical activity, limiting their job opportunities, and had an increased risk of developing chronic conditions such as COPD, hypertension, heart attacks, strokes, and premature death.
Author, Kennedy Williams
Co-lead of 269 Air Quality (AQ) Why are children at a higher risk of poor air quality?Children are particularly vulnerable to environmental harm, in part because a significant amount of lung development occurs after birth. This makes them more susceptible to the effects of air pollution. Currently, 36% of the U.S. population lives in areas with unhealthy levels of particulate matter and ozone, two pollutants that are linked to reduced lung function in children and contribute to global warming. Additionally, children breathe faster than adults, which means they take in more air per pound of body weight, leading to higher doses of air pollution. They also tend to play more outdoors, where air pollution concentrations are higher, especially near the ground where car exhaust accumulates. Children's noses, which are less efficient at filtering pollutants, combined with their tendency to breathe through their mouths, increase the risk of inhaling harmful particles. Chronic exposure to air pollution can result in smaller, stiffer lungs and an increased risk of conditions such as asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, and even premature death. Smaller particles, in particular, are able to penetrate deeper into the lungs, crossing the alveoli and entering the bloodstream, where they can cause damage to multiple organs, including the heart and brain.
Author, Kennedy Williams
Co-lead of 269 Air Quality (AQ) ArchivesNo Archives Categories |
RSS Feed
