School Kids and Traffic Pollution
Traffic-related Ambient Air Pollution and Children (#TRAPS)
The effects of traffic-related pollution on ambient (outdoor) air is well-known throughout the world. The most common term would be “smog.”
However, the effects on indoor air quality are far less considered.
Research is showing that when traffic-related outdoor levels spike, that the ability of children to perform well at school drops off. This only relates to the spikes in the outdoor air.
Chang says that 3000 people die each year due to air pollution!1
Questions
Does traffic-related air pollution have any effect on children?
How does this affect children?
Does this affect the rest of us?
What do we need to consider with regards to our homes?
I answer these questions and more in this video:
Is this a problem where you live?
Research is continually being done to monitor our outdoor air. As a result, there are various hotspots which have been identified across the country.
Regardless of this, if you are near a busy road, there may be issues.
Apart from the traffic-related ambient air pollution, there can be high levels of lead, and even asbestos, near busy roads.
It is important to know about and mitigate the risks of this type of pollution.
I can design a package to suit your needs and assess the ambient air and indoor air for this type of pollution. Of course, you will be provided with solutions so that you can protect your own health and that of your family's.
Mental Health
Too, research has found links between air pollution and cardiopulmonary (heart and lung) health.
A growing body of evidence indicates that air pollution can implicate in effects on the central nervous system.
Dementia is one such neuropathological disease.
A study conducted in Sweden concluded that there were associations between dementia incidence and local traffic pollution.
The authors also noted that other environmental factors, such as traffic noise, could not rule out.
References:
1Chang, C (May 2014) What if Australian Cities Were Shrouded in Smog? (Online) Available at http://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/what-if-australian-cities-were-shrouded-in-smog/news-story/4b2efdf5d56cac678dbdb5ccd4087a54 (23 February 2018)