The Health Effects of Air Pollution on Children, Research Paper Example

Air pollutants are a common cause of disease and health problems around the world.  Much of the pollution can immediately be found outside of the home; however, over time it can quickly enter a home and continue to contaminate the breathing air.  Many of the health problems involve basic defects such as coughing, itching skin, rashes and watery eyes (EPA.gov).  More long-term effects can lead to respiratory disease, memory loss and even cancer (Eastburn, 2006).  All of these problems are typically found in urban settings that can be directly responsible for fossil fuel emissions and contaminated air quality caused by industrial emissions as well.

Children are statistically more prone to encountering air pollutants than adults.  This is true for many crucial reasons.  First, the physiology of children is different from adults in which children take in more air at comparable levels of exertion than adults would at the same levels (Kleinman, 2000).  Children also spend more time outside than adults typically do.  Finally, children often do not respond to the symptoms of air pollution as adults do.  Adults experience preliminary signs of health concern such as coughing and wheezing when encountering air pollution; whereas, children often do not show any signs or they fail to report these signs to anyone (Kleinman, 2000).  Therefore, it is clear that children will have a much different physiological experience with air pollution that adults and this makes them more prone to the negative effects caused by air pollution.

As a health educator consultant, it is critical to develop a plan that effectively teaches people within the community the different sources of pollution and how to interact safely in a potentially hazardous environment.  I must engage with the nurse to create educational programs and events for both adults and children.  We can even determine if entering the school system would be beneficial and acceptable to properly explain to children that it is important to express their health concerns with an adult immediately.  This will help to eliminate much of the risk for children to experience poor health defects due to air pollution.

References

Eastburn, T. (2006, February 17). Pollution’s effects. Retrieved from http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/Atmosphere/pollution_effects_overview.html&edu=elem

EPA.gov. Pollutants & sources. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/pollsour.html

Kleinman, M.T. (2000). The Health effects of air pollution on children. Retrieved from http://www.aqmd.gov/forstudents/health_effects_on_children.html