This document discusses the effects of indoor air pollution on child health. It notes that indoor air pollution is a major contributor to disease globally, especially in developing countries where solid fuels are commonly used for cooking and heating. Children are particularly vulnerable to indoor air pollution due to spending more time indoors and their developing respiratory systems. Exposure can lead to both acute and chronic respiratory issues. Prevention strategies include improving living environments, changing behaviors, educating households, and implementing laws and policies to reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution.
2. Outline
• Pollution
• Classification of Pollution
• Air Pollution
• Health Effect of Air Pollution on Children
• Indoor Air Pollution
• Direct Impact
• Children at risk
• Prevention
• Conclusion
• References
3. POLLUTION
Pollution has always accompanied civilizations
Pollution started from prehistoric times when man created the first fires
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse
change
Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light
4. CLASSIFICATION OF POLLUTION
Point Source Or Non Point Source
Air Pollution
Water Pollution
Environmental or Soil Pollution
Pollution can be classified in various ways, it could be categorize according to sources, forms, causes, the
pollutants they emits, and even the effects they cause.
5. Air Pollution
Any atmospheric condition in which
certain substances are present in
concentrations that they produce
undesirable effects on humans and
environment.
6. Pollutants of the air
Gaseous: Toxic and poisonous Substance such as
CO, Chlorine, NH3, H2S, SO2, NO2, CO2.
Particulate Matter (PM): Solids or Liquids with size less than 100 microns that remain suspended in
the atmosphere. They includes
Dusts
Fumes
Smoke
Mist
Fog
Bacteria
A pollutants is a chemical substance causing pollution
8. INDOOR AIR POLLUTION (IAP)
According to WHO in 2007, Indoor air pollution is a key contributor to the global burden of disease mainly
in developing countries
Solid fuel for cooking and heating is the main source in developing countries
Estimation 3.5 million deaths and 4.5% of Disability-Adjusted Life Years in 2010 by IAP
Other sources of IAP include indoor smoking, infiltration of pollutants from outdoor sources and substances
emitted from an array of human utilities and biological materials
Children are among the most vulnerable groups for adverse effects of IAP
9. INDOOR AIR POLLUTION (IAP)
Outdoor air pollution: vehicles and industrial plants
Secondhand tobacco smoke
Fuels used for heating and cooking
Confined and poorly ventilated spaces
Overcrowded homes and insufficient living space
Customs, habits, traditions
Level of economic development: Industrialized ≠ developing countries
Indoor air quality is influenced by:
10. DIRECT EFFECT OF IAP ON CHILD HEALTH
Acute:
Irritation of the mucous membranes (eyes, nose, throat)
Cough, wheeze, chest tightness
Increased airway responsiveness to allergens
Increased incidence of acute respiratory illness: "cold",
pneumonia, otitis media Tracheobronchitis
Exacerbation of asthma
Chronic:
Long-term exposure decreases lung growth
Impairment of pulmonary function
Increased susceptibility to chronic obstructive lung
diseases, (including asthma)
Other
Indoor environments also reflect outdoor air quality
12. PREVENTION – WAY OUT
Improvements in living environments
Change of behaviors of persons who cook and households members
Children should live in fresh air environment
Law and Legislation should be impacted in the mismanagement of indoor and outdoor air pollution
More informative and educative seminars should be publicize to the people
13. CONCLUSION
IAP disproportionately affects children’s respiratory health due to their physiological susceptibility and spending
more time indoors. Exposure of children in developing countries to IAP has contributed significantly to the global
burden of disease. IAP is a modifiable risk factor having known interventions to mitigate its effects. Other than
solid fuel and SHS exposure, pollutants from other sources, yet to be explored, may play an important role in
impacting on the respiratory health of children in developing countries.
Successful prevention strategies need robust information pertaining to the problem generated from diverse
settings. Future research is needed in several areas. Some key areas include quantification of different air
pollutants, robust estimation of associations between indoor pollutants and adverse respiratory health effects,
genetic susceptibility to indoor pollutants and their carcinogenic effects, impact on lung growth and
development, characteristics and assessment of successful IAP reduction interventions (e.g., cook stove
interventions), cultural practices and behaviors that lead to a reduction or an increase in IAP and its exposure.
14. LIST OF REFERENCES
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