Air pollution hurting health of city’s children
Print Edition
Shanghai is experiencing its most serious air pollution in recent years. Last month was reported to be the dirtiest December in the past five years.
Only eight days were deemed to have excellent or good air quality. The rest were all recorded as polluted mainly as a result of two factors: an accumulation of local pollutants and cold fronts that brought dirty air from the north.
Hospitals, especially pediatric hospitals, have reported a big increase in patients with respiratory symptoms. Apart from the cold weather, pollutants like dangerously fine PM2.5 particles — which can go deep into the lungs and directly into the bloodstream — were blamed.
Inhalation of air pollutants harms children, including developing fetuses and infants, doctors say. Children are more susceptible to pollutants because they have immature lungs, lower immunity, and often are outdoors. Also, they inhale more pollutants in a relative sense because their breathing rate is faster than that of adults.
Dr Sadhna Sharma at Shanghai East International Medical Center (SEIMC), the first foreign joint venture general hospital in Shanghai, shared some cases that she encountered recently.
A three-year-old patient, Eric, moved with his family to Shanghai from Singapore. He developed allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and bronchitis over a couple of months. He was prescribed various medications, but eventually got recurrent tonsillitis. Even after a tonsillectomy he did not recover: He also got pneumonia. He was hospitalized and treated and finally his parents decided to move back to Singapore. He never had respiratory problems before moving to Shanghai.
In another case, a pair of two-year-old twins from the United Kingdom moved to Shanghai. They got asthma. Whenever pollution levels are very bad, they have wheezing and breathing problems.
Children who stay inside due to outdoor pollution for long periods of time have higher incidents of obesity. They play computer games and watch TV rather than running and playing outside.
Air pollution causes some children to get itchy eyes and have allergic skins rashes.
Outdoor air quality affects indoor air quality as well. Tiny PM2.5 particles that can pass into the bloodstream affect the respiratory, neurological and cardiac systems and can cause hardening of the arteries.
Larger PM10 particles affect the upper respiratory system. Higher levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide affect lung development and lung function in children.
Sulfur dioxide, which is highly water soluble, initially affects the upper airway and causes hay fever, cough and throat irritation.
Ozone, which has medium solubility, initially affects the middle airway and causes bronchitis and inflammation of the larynx, trachea and bronchial passageways.
Nitrogen dioxide, which has low solubility, affects the lower airway.
High levels of ozone also are harmful for developing lungs. Ozone levels are higher during afternoon. Ozone can result in irritation that doctors say is like a sunburn of the lungs. Ozone is an oxidant which causes lung irritation and inflammation. The eyes, nose, and throat are also affected by ozone.
Long-term exposure to pollutants can lead to asthma attacks, decreased lung function, and increase susceptibility to infection.
Carbon monoxide combines with hemoglobin and reduces oxygen levels in the blood. Those who have anemia, heart disease and lung disease can become more susceptible to carbon monoxide poisoning. Sulfur dioxide causes respiratory and neurological problems. Some pollutants cause lung cancer, leukemia and other cancers.
If a child gets a respiratory infection during periods of smog, recovery is slower as the body’s defense mechanism against bacteria and viruses is impaired. It is also associated with increased respiratory symptoms like prolonged cough.
Some young people get bronchitis and pneumonia as they spend more time outside, especially at night. They also frequent restaurants and bars. Air quality inside bars is worse than outdoor quality because of smoking and a lack of ventilation.
Hospital admissions have been increasing over the past couple of years. Among children hospitalized in the city, half had asthma, pneumonia, tonsillitis or acute inflammation of the larynx, trachea and bronchial passageways. Among children visiting clinics, 70 percent were having respiratory system-related issues.
Improve indoor air quality by avoiding chemicals used for cleaning. Avoid smoking. Use exhaust or ventilation while cooking.
Check indoor air quality at home. If children have asthma or recurrent respiratory infections, using an indoor high-efficiency particulate absorption (HEPA) air filter is helpful.
Check the pollution level and plan activities accordingly.
If possible, visit pollution-free cities during school holidays and vacations.
Wear masks when air quality is unhealthy.
Exercise regularly, preferred indoor when pollution is bad, and maintain a healthy diet.
Use public transportation and encourage car sharing to reduce air pollution output.
Avoid residing near factories, highways or heavy traffic areas.
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