Special Contributor to Real Mama, Inc.
The Quick Facts: Air pollution and “bad air” days can occur throughout the year, but in many parts of the United States they tend to be more frequent during the summer months. To protect your children from the effects of air pollution when playing outside, following the guidance outlined below by an expert in the field.
Summertime in most parts of the United States means beautiful weather, baseball and softball games, and trips to neighborhood swimming pools. Unfortunately, for millions of children living in and around urban areas, summertime also means smog season, which can run as long as May 1 to September 30, depending on local weather conditions. Ground-level ozone only forms in hot weather and concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM) also tend to be higher during the summer months, although ‘bad air’ days can occur throughout the year.
“Go play outside!”
Playing outside is great for kids, so as temperatures rise, many parents encourage their children to take advantage of the beautiful weather by riding bikes and playing at neighborhood parks. But, because many metropolitan areas have serious air quality problems, it is important to consider air pollution levels when planning outdoor activities.
Why should parents be concerned about air pollution?
Ozone and fine particle pollution is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) because they are known to be associated with a number of serious heart and lung conditions. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks and also may make it more likely that a child develops asthma in the first place. Doctors describe the effect of ozone on the lungs as being comparable to a sunburn on the skin. Air pollution slows lung development and can even cause heart attacks and sudden death.
All children are particularly sensitive to the effects of air pollution because they take in more air per body weight, their airways are narrower than adult airways, their lungs are still developing and they tend to spend more active time outdoors than adults. Along with adults who suffer from respiratory or cardiac diseases and the elderly, children are more vulnerable to the negative health effects of air pollution and caregivers should monitor pollution levels and consider the risks before sending them outdoors on smog alert days.
How do I know if we are having a bad air day?
The EPA maintains the “Air Now” Web site (http://www.airnow.gov/) to enable citizens to check on local air quality. In addition, a number of metropolitan areas with serious air quality problems have email alert systems that send alerts to participants the day before a predicted bad air day. The Air Now Web site provides links to those local and regional systems.
What should I do if the air quality is poor today?
Paying attention to the type of pollutant that is high can help with planning some outdoor activity, even on smog alert days.
EPA’s Air Now page or local smog alerts will tell you whether ozone, PM or both are at unhealthy levels. Different pollutants peak at different times of the day. For ozone, levels are highest from 2-7 p.m., so send the kids outdoors in the morning. When ozone is high, you can still get your kids outdoors—just be sure to schedule outdoor time before 2 p.m., particularly when they are running around and breathing hard.
For PM pollution, the peaks occur right around morning and evening rush hour, but sometimes remain high all day. So, it is best to find an indoor space where your kids can play.
If both ozone and PM are high, it is also best to move all exercise indoors that day. Try talking with your local recreation center about making a gymnasium available for indoor play on smog alert days.
By paying attention to air quality levels and the kind of pollutant that is high and by adjusting activities accordingly, it is still possible to get your kids outdoors as much as possible and ensure they get plenty of exercise during the summer months or on “bad air” days. Staying up to date on air quality levels will help reduce their risk from the harmful heart and lung problems associated with air pollution.
Special Contributor to Real Mama, Inc., Rebecca Watts Hull is the Program Manager for Mothers & Others for Clean Air at the Georgia Conservancy. Rebecca holds a Master of Science degree in Natural Resources & Environment from the University of Michigan. She has worked as an environmental project manager and educator for several nonprofit organizations, the U.S. Peace Corps, and an independent school in Atlanta where she lives with her husband and two children.
Information used in this article is based on the following advisory document and the advice of the team of air quality and health experts that developed it:
http://www.georgiaconservancy.org/mothersandothers/downloads/SmogHealthGuidelines042808.pdf
