Air pollution is harmful substances in the air. These harmful substances include the following :

• chemicals from factories
• car exhaust
• dust
• pollen
• mold

These can affect the child’s breathing and health. Children’s lungs are especially susceptible to the harmful effect of air pollution. This is because they breathe rapidly and  inhale a high concentration pollution relative to their weight.

How to protect children from air pollution ?

You need to be careful when you take children out especially for physical activities. Children breathe more heavily than normal when they exercise. They also breathe in more through their mouths than noses. As a result,  air pollutants are  inhaled more deeply into the lungs where they can cause permanent damage.

You should do the following to reduce your child’s risk of inhaling in large pollutant

• do not take the child outside when  local health officials give out air pollution or smog alerts
• during the summer, go outside early in the morning   or after sunset
• stay away from areas with high traffic