What is air pollution and how to protect your family from it
For children to grow up healthy, they need clean, safe air. Here are some ways you can reduce air pollution in your environment and help protect your child from its impacts.
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Air pollution is one of the greatest threats to children’s health. The latest regional report Breathless beginnings shows that in major cities across Europe and Central Asia air pollution regularly exceeds levels considered safe by WHO, making it the leading environmental health risk for children across the region.
In North Macedonia, the risks from air pollution are especially high. Skopje is often high on the list of most polluted cities in the world, while PM10 or PM2.5 levels, on average, surpass the safe thresholds for more than 100 days annually. Other cities such as Tetovo, Bitola, Kavadarci, Strumica and Kochani also experience high levels of air pollution, particularly during the winter months.
In North Macedonia, infant deaths linked to air pollution accounted for 11.6 per cent or 1 in 9 of all deaths of children under one.
For children to grow up healthy, they need clean, safe air. Here are some ways you can reduce air pollution in your environment and help protect your child from its impacts.
Air pollution: Fast facts
What is air pollution?
When harmful substances (pollutants) – particles or gases – are released into the air and reduce its quality, the air is polluted.
Most people are familiar with outdoor air pollution. Some of the biggest sources of pollution are the burning of biomass (wood), mineral dust (from construction and quarries), traffic (internal combustion engine emission, tire, and brakes wear) and burning oil.
However, indoor air pollution can sometimes be worse than outdoors, if we don’t take proper precautions. In addition to the pollution that can come from the outside, indoor air can be polluted from sources such as chemicals, fumes, smoking and second-hand smoke, dirt and dust, as well as biological contaminants such as mold, pests, bacteria, and viruses. These pollutants can worsen the indoor air quality in conditions of poor ventilation/filtration, and improper temperature and humidity.
Most air pollution comes from sources like power plants and factories that burn fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas); road traffic; waste management; construction; excessive fertilizer and pesticide use and burning of agricultural waste; coal and wood burning stoves; and wildfires. The most common gasses and particles that cause harm when their concentration is high are PM2,5, PM10, VOC (volatile organic compounds), CO2 (carbon dioxide), CO (carbon monoxide), HCHO (formaldehyde CH2O).
How does air pollution impact our health?
Air pollution is directly linked with diseases that kill. It can cause serious health and environmental hazards to people and other living beings.
Some of the particles are so small that they can reach deep into our lungs, cross into the bloodstream, and be carried throughout the rest of our body. Particles known as PM 2.5 are about the size of one-thirtieth the width of a human hair and can be carried across thousands of miles. PM 2.5 can pass into our lungs and enter the bloodstream, which increases the risk of heart and respiratory diseases, strokes and lung cancer, as well as health problems for pregnant women and their babies.
How do I know if the air is polluted?
Air pollution levels can vary depending on the place and time of day.
The Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning has 22 measuring stations across the country. The stations measure different kinds of pollutants but for easier reference we can also use the air quality index to describe the air quality in simple terms and an easy-to-understand color scale. It is based on hourly means of pollutant concentrations and gives an overall characterization of the actual air quality. The current state of Air Quality can be accessed here.
The index takes into account the concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), respirable particles (PM10), fine particles (PM2,5), ozone (O3) and carbon monoxide (CO). The measured concentrations are compared with the current air quality guidelines.
Outdoor and indoor air pollution are directly linked with respiratory infections and other diseases
Children and air pollution
Why are children more at risk?
As children are growing, their developing lungs and brains makes them especially vulnerable to air pollution.
Their immune systems are weaker than adults, making them more vulnerable to viruses, bacteria and other infections. This increases the risk of respiratory infection and reduces their ability to fight it.
Young children breathe faster than adults and take in more air relative to their body weight, often through the mouth, which takes in more pollutants. Because of their height, they are also closer to the ground where some pollutants reach peak concentrations.
How does air pollution impact children?
Air pollution causes both immediate and long-term health effects in children that can be irreversible.
Air pollution is linked to respiratory conditions such as pneumonia, bronchitis and asthma. It can exacerbate underlying health conditions and harm children’s physical and cognitive development. As a result, other areas of children’s lives can be affected. For example, when children get sick, they might miss school, further limiting their learning and development potential.
And the effects of air pollution can last a lifetime. Adults who were exposed to air pollution as children tend to have respiratory problems later in life.
During pregnancy: A woman’s body can store harmful chemicals from the air, passing them to her baby during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Air pollution can seriously affect the health of the fetus. It can lead to negative pregnancy outcomes – such as miscarriages, early delivery and low birth weight – and can impact the healthy development of children’s brains.
What symptoms of exposure to air pollution should I look out for?
Here are some symptoms that can result from exposure to air pollution. Talk to your doctor if a member of your family experience any of these symptoms.
- Dry/irritated eyes, headache, fatigue, allergies or shortness of breath. In infants, look out for signs of exertion while breathing.
- People with asthma might experience more severe asthmatic attacks, shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing or wheezing.
Adults exposed to air pollution as children tend to have respiratory problems later in life.
How to protect children from air pollution
Air pollution is a global problem and requires action not just by families and individuals, but by communities and governments. However, there are many things we can do to reduce our exposure to air pollution and reduce its impact on children.
Here are some key steps you can take with your family:
- Monitor the air quality information where you live on a daily basis and try to adjust your family’s behavior and exposure levels accordingly.
- Try to reduce the time spent in areas where pollution is high, such as near or around areas of severe traffic congestion or sources of industrial pollution. Travelling at times of the day when air pollution is lower can help reduce exposure.
- When air pollution is particularly bad, it is best that children avoid strenuous activity. Play or exercise should be minimized, particularly if children have pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma or other respiratory infections.
- When air pollution outside is extreme, such as during wildfires, try to keep your child indoors.
- If possible, switch to cleaner fuels and technologies to cook, heat and light your home. You can choose electricity, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, biogas or solar stoves or ovens.
- Ensure the cooking area is well-ventilated by opening windows and using exhaust fans to allow heat and fumes to escape.
- If your household uses wood as a heating source maintain stoves, chimneys, and other appliances so that they burn fuel efficiently. You can find more information here.
- Don’t smoke indoors or near children or pregnant women to make sure they are not exposed to second-hand smoke.
- Be aware of other common sources of indoor contaminants, including building and paint products, cleaning supplies and household chemicals. Don’t burn candles or incense or use air fresheners that add toxic chemicals to the air.
- If possible, consider installing air purifiers with high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters which are effective against indoor air pollution.
- Healthy diets and lifestyles can help reduce the overall impact of air pollution on children. The healthier a child is, the less likely that health complications arise as a result of exposure to air pollution. This includes exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, making sure children stay up to date with their immunizations (including pneumococcal vaccine), supporting healthy diets and providing plenty of opportunities to play and be physically active when the air outside is clean.
And remember: Children are often passionate about the environment and combatting climate change is something that matters greatly to many. Children should know about the risks that air pollution can have to both their health and the environment. They should know how bad their air can be, and what can be done to reduce it and protect themselves from it. Here’s a child-friendly resource about air pollution you can explore together.
Help create change for cleaner air
Air pollution is a public health emergency and unless governments and businesses take concrete steps to reduce it, children will continue to suffer the most. You can play an important role in raising awareness of the problem and the solutions.
- Encourage and support your children to learn about and participate in environmental activities.
- Use public transportation, biking, or simply walking to reduce your own carbon footprint and thereby air pollution.
- Talk to your child’s school about clean air, pollution-free zones and safe playing areas. Find out if they have rules on traffic and smoking bans around the school. If not, talk with other parents and with the school on how such rules can be introduced and implemented.
- Look in your community for local green initiatives you can support.
- Call on your local government and health authorities to support policies that reduce air pollution and protect child health, such as strengthening public transport and limiting sources of air pollution near schools and playgrounds.
