Parents should use pram covers to protect babies and young children from harmful air pollution during the school run, researchers suggest.
The team from the University of Surrey studying the subject found that traffic lights and bus stops were pollution hotspots and that there were higher levels of pollution in the morning compared with the afternoon.
They also advised that young children are more at risk because their bodies are small and developing and they could be breathing in damaging substances.
The Surrey research, published in Environmental Pollution, was based on measurements from air monitoring equipment inside toddlers’ prams being pushed to and from schools during drop-off and pick-up times. Scientists looked at pollution levels in prams during 64 trips, covering about 50 miles (80km), in Guildford. Bus stops and traffic lights were the worst places for being exposed to the tiny particles from exhaust fumes and tyres that can get into the bloodstream and there were more of these harmful particles in the air during morning drop-off times, when traffic was at its busiest.
Dr Prashant Kumar, lead study author from the University of Surrey, said his findings were a warning to parents.
“Young children are far more susceptible to pollution than adults, due to their immature and developing systems and lower body weight,” he said. “Essentially, children could be at risk of breathing in some nasty and harmful chemical species such as iron, aluminium and silica that form together the particles of various size ranges.”
Dr Kumar said the best way to stop this happening was to use a barrier between children in prams and the emissions from vehicle exhausts, especially at traffic lights, crossroads and bus stops. He said his research team was also trying to find a way to clean the air around children sitting in their prams. But in the meantime they advise that parents should use pram covers as a way of protecting children from the harmful affects of pollution during the school run.
Article taken in part from www.bbc.co.uk
If this article was helpful you may like these too:
Children Have Fewer Allergies if….
Children Need Exercise – Especially Girls
Disclaimer
All content on this website is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. Always consult your own GP if you’re in any way concerned about your health.