The growing pollution in the environment can severely impact the health and growth patterns of children and infants, says Dr Srikantha

Every day, almost 93 per cent of the children around the world under the age of 15 breathe or are exposed to toxic air. This is no surprise considering the pace at which the toxins are being released in the environment. The elderly and children are vulnerable to environmental hazards and air pollution is one of the most life-threatening among all of them.

Children, however, are exposed to air pollution even before they are born. There is an alarming rise in the number of pregnancy complications due to bad air quality including slowed foetal growth, delayed lung expansion and lower birth weights that is linked to more number of premature babies in the present scenario. This is due to the exposure of the mother to various air pollutants while being pregnant.

The impact of air pollution on the children can be related to certain high-risk health issues. Some of them are:

Respiratory/Asthmatic issues

The major cause for an alarming rise of respiratory issues in children is definitely the pollution from vehicles, particularly from the traffic in the metro cities. Though there are strict rules from the government to regulate pollution being expelled by the vehicles. Infants and children who are exposed to this develop severe respiratory and breathing issues including cough, pneumonia and even mortality at times. Therefore, extra care while travelling and minimising the exposure in densely polluted areas is essential.

Complications due to lower immunity

Studies by Stratford University prove that lower immunity of an infant is directly linked to the complications from the exposure of the mother to various air pollutants during pregnancy. This results in premature birth, even before their lungs are fully expanded. They are therefore more prone to pneumonia, breathing issues etc. They can also later develop fatal illnesses like lung cancer and other pulmonary disorders.

Stagnant physical and mental growth

One may wonder how a child’s growth is related to air pollution. But a child’s growth is affected and can be limited due to health issues arising from various factors of air pollution. They can become mentally and emotionally drained as they will be restricted to the four walls of the house or hospital, wherein, childhood, the golden time in a person’s life, is not experienced to the fullest.

Neurological and cardio-respiratory issues

Early exposure to air pollution for infants can result in severe neuro-toxic issues even decades after exposure. Changes in the autonomous function of the organs results in drastic neurological imbalance of the heart, brain and other vital functions of the body. Almost 90 per cent of the children, particularly in the metro cities of India have been diagnosed with neurological complications that are connected to the various air pollutants.

We should take the blame for what is happening right now. During our childhood there were more trees and less smoke, more open places and less concrete jungles, lesser factories in highly populated areas and lesser vehicles on roads. Although we cannot rewind and bring all these to the present, as responsible citizens, we can contribute to help bring down air pollution by using public transport, walking wherever possible, burning less fossil fuels and creating awareness among others.

(The author is a Srikantha JT, consultant — paediatric pulmonology and sleep medicine —  Aster RV Hospital, JP Nagar, Bengaluru.)