HEALTH

Something in the air?

Is air pollution something you should be concerned about at your early years setting? Here we look at some of the evidence and how you can help

Image

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), around 93% of the world’s children breathe in toxic air every day – that’s 1.8 billion children whose health and development is potentially at serious risk. In 2016, the WHO estimated that 600,000 children died from acute lower respiratory infections caused by polluted air.

Children who suffer with lung conditions, such as asthma, are particularly at risk from the effects of air pollution. 53% of people with asthma surveyed by Asthma + Lung UK said they were triggered by toxic air.

It’s worth noting that it can take time to confirm an asthma diagnosis in very young children, particularly if they are under five and unable to do an asthma test yet. This means that there may be some children in your setting who have suspected asthma but are yet to get an official diagnosis.

With early years provision often located in busy areas, the risk of children being exposed to high levels of air pollution on their way to and from the setting, as well as during any time they spend outside during the day, is a concern.

Erika Radford, head of health advice at Asthma + Lung UK, says: “Air pollution is dangerous for everyone. Research shows that high levels of air pollution can cause lung conditions and it can also worsen symptoms for people with existing lung conditions. Children are particularly vulnerable because they breathe faster than adults do, meaning they can inhale more toxic air in a shorter amount of time.

“Children’s lungs and airways are still developing, so need to be protected. Exposure to high levels of air pollution has even been found to stunt the growth of children’s lungs. Children who grow up in highly polluted areas are also more likely to develop asthma. Tiny air pollution particles, around thirty times smaller than the width of a human hair, can become lodged in the lining of the lungs and pass through into the bloodstream where they can cause harm to every organ in the body.”

How you can help
If you are concerned about levels of air pollution in your local area, it can be easy to feel a little helpless as the problems associated with burning fossil fuels are certainly not going to be easily, or quickly, solved. While of course you can support steps towards a more sustainable future, there are some practical steps you can take at your provision now to help reduce the harms of air pollution for children.

Erika says: “Our advice to early years providers is to check air pollution forecasts regularly, and on high pollution days consider taking extra steps to keep children safe. This can include keeping windows closed to stop dirty air getting into your building and avoiding outside play and exercise. If you are taking the children to the park, try to walk as far away from the roadside as possible or take back streets. If you have children in your care with asthma, or suspected asthma, make sure you know how to help them use their inhalers and what to do in an asthma attack.”

In 2020, the Mayor of London audited 20 nurseries based in polluted areas across the city to find ways of reducing children’s exposure to toxic air. The audits have created the following list of steps providers can take to help reduce the problem:

  • introduce a ‘no engine idling’ policy for families during pick-up and drop-off times
  • consider speaking to your local authority about introducing ‘school streets’ where the road is closed to traffic during pick-up and drop-off times 
  • try to add green barriers, such as bushes, alongside busy roads and in outside play areas to help filter fumes 
  • encourage families to walk to the setting along less polluted routes where possible

Erika adds: “Air pollution is a serious problem, and you can help by raising awareness of the issue among children and their parents and to encourage them to walk and cycle rather than taking short car journeys. You could also make a poster to put outside your centre to discourage idling, which is when you keep your car running when it’s not moving.”

Find out more

For advice on how to help any children at your setting with asthma, or suspected asthma, visit asthma.org.uk/advice/child/asthma-attacks.

To find out more about the Mayor of London’s nursery air quality audit programme, visit bit.ly/NAQAP.