| AIR
POLLUTION
Outdoor
Air Pollution
Air quality
has improved over the last 20 years, but air pollution is still an important
health problem in many areas across the country, including most cities.
The two most common pollutants are ozone (smog) and particulate matter
(pollen, soot, dust, etc.). Children are very sensitive to the effects
of air pollution. Children breathe more rapidly than do adults, and inhale
more pollution per pound of body weight than adults. Therefore, their
lungs have a greater chance for being exposed to harmful air pollutants.
While exercising, children breathe more heavily and air pollution can
be inhaled more deeply into the lungs. When children have a cold or are
exercising, they often breathe through their mouths, taking in more pollutants
than if the air was filtered through their noses. Because children's lungs
are still developing, repeatedly breathing in polluted air may contribute
to permanent lung damage.
You can help
protect the children in your care from the harmful effects of air pollution
by:
- Not conducting
outdoor activities on days when the air quality index in your
area is 100 or above. In communities where air pollution is a problem,
this index is reported by local radio and television stations and newspapers.
- Scheduling
outdoor activities for the early morning on smoggy days, especially
in the summer. In many communities, summer smog levels peak in mid to
late afternoon on hot days (over 90 degrees) when the air is stagnant.
- Conducting
outdoor activities away from areas with heavy traffic.
Indoor
Air Pollution
Because children
spend a great deal of time indoors, the quality of air indoors is important,
too. The greatest threat to indoor air is tobacco smoke. Without
exception, cigarette smoking should not be allowed anywhere in a child
care facility by anyone. Exposing children to second-hand smoke:
- harms
children's lungs,
- increases
the risk of ear infections,
- worsens
the health of children with asthma, and
- exposes
children to numerous cancer-causing chemicals.
Carbon
monoxide is a particularly dangerous indoor air pollutant. You can't
see it or smell it. High levels of carbon monoxide can cause headaches,
dizziness, nausea, and weakness. At very high levels, carbon monoxide
poisoning can cause death. But you can easily prevent these problems by
maintaining furnaces and other appliances in good repair and by installing
carbon monoxide detectors. Carbon monoxide detectors look like smoke detectors,
are inexpensive, and are sold in hardware stores.
Wall-to-wall
carpeting can contribute to poor indoor air because it can trap all
sorts of chemicals, serve as a breeding ground for molds and microscopic
organisms such as dust mites, and is difficult to clean. You do not need
to remove carpeting if no problem exists. But if you plan to build a new
child care facility or remodel an old one, you should consider installing
smooth floors such as vinyl.
Radon
is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas formed by the breakdown of radium,
a naturally occurring element in the earth. High radon levels have been
found in every state. Radon can be found in soil, water, building materials,
and natural gas. When a building settles, small cracks may form in the
foundation. These cracks allow gases in the earth, including radon, to
seep into a building. The greatest concentrations of radon are usually
found in the basement or ground floor.
Radon breaks
down into radioactive particles that can get trapped in your lungs when
you breathe. As they break down further, these particles release small
bursts of energy that can damage lung tissue. This can lead to lung cancer.
Radon is the second leading cause of death from lung cancer in the United
States. Only cigarette smoking causes more cases of death from lung cancer.
Smokers are at a greater risk for lung cancer due to exposure to radon
than are nonsmokers.
You need
to determine if your facility or home has dangerous levels of radon by
measuring the indoor air for radon. The amount of radon is measured in
picocuries per liter of air. Testing for radon is very inexpensive.
“Do it yourself” radon test kits are sold at hardware and other
home improvement stores. Buy a kit that is certified by the Environmental
Protection Agency or your state. You need to buy a radon test kit to measure
the radon (in picocuries per liter of air) in your child care facility.
Radon can be measured over different time periods ranging from 2 days
to 1 year. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and mail the detector
to the designated test laboratory. The laboratory will mail you the results.
If the results are 4 picocuries per liter of air or higher, you need to
take action to reduce the radon.
For more
information on how to reduce your radon health risk, contact your state
radon office or call 1-800-SOS-RADON (English) or 1-800-SALUD-1-2 (Spanish).
Asbestos
is a fire-resistant material that, in the past, was sprayed on ceilings,
pipes, and other surfaces in buildings. Over time, asbestos becomes crumbly
and flakes into a fine dust that hangs in the air. Asbestos is no longer
used in new construction because it was found to cause serious lung problems
and cancer. These problems can develop as late as 20 to 40 years after
a person has been exposed to it. To prevent exposure to asbestos, the
asbestos must be either sprayed with a sealant, enclosed with newly constructed
walls or ceilings, or removed. Only qualified workers should remove asbestos.
No one else should be present during the removal process. If you suspect
your child care facility may have asbestos-lined building materials, contact
your local health department to obtain information on how to have the
air in your facility sampled and analyzed.
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