Frequently Asked Questions

Indoor and Outdoor Pollution and Respiratory Health

¿What are the most important things I can do to protect my child from indoor air pollution?

Do not smoke. Preventing children from being exposed to environmental tobacco smoke is important. Keep your home dry. Wood stoves and fireplaces need to be checked yearly by a professional to make sure they are clean and running efficiently. Gas ovens should not be used to provide supplement heat.

¿My child has had a persistent runny nose. Could this be due to the new carpet we installed last month?

The symptom could be due to viruses, bacteria, or allergies. It is also possible that the symptoms related to something in the child’s environment such as environmental tobacco smoke or the chemical compounds released from new carpet.

¿When I bring clothes from the dry cleaners, are the chemicals that are released from clothes dangerous to my child?

A very small amount of the chemicals used in the dry cleaning process will be released from clothes. Of more concern is whether the home is located directly above or adjacent to dry cleaning establishment. If so, the amount of daily exposure may be enough to cause health concerns.

¿What can be done to protect my children from outdoor air pollution when they want and need to be able to play outdoors?

The potential harm posed by outdoor air pollution depends on the concentration of pollutants, which can vary from day to day and even during the course of a day. While exposure to outdoor air pollutants cannot be entirely prevented, it can be reduced by restricting the amount of time that children spend outdoor during periods of poor air quality. On days when ozone levels are expected or reported to be high, outdoor activities could be restricted during the afternoon or rescheduled to the morning.

¿Would face dust masks be effective for protecting my children when air pollution levels are high?

Dust masks and other forms of respiratory protection, which are sized for adults and not children, are not recommended for protection against outdoor air pollution. Not only do poor fit and uncertain compliance limit any potential benefits, but also most simple dust masks do not include the materials needed to filter out harmful VOCs or ozone.

¿What is the relationship between ozone in urban smog and stratospheric ozone?

These issues are unrelated. Ozone in the troposphere, or ground levels, is a major component of urban smog and a health hazard. The formation of ground level ozone is independent of ozone in the upper atmosphere, or stratosphere. Stratospheric ozone provides a protective shield absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation. Too little stratospheric ozone increases the risk of skin cancer and eye damage from ultraviolet rays.

Lead

¿We have ceramic dishes. It is safe to use them?

Some ceramic dishes contain lead. Such dishes should not be used to cook or store food, since the acids can leach large amounts of lead from dishes into de food.

¿Can food be a source of lead?

Occasionally lead may contaminate food. Soil lead is taken up by root vegetable and atmospheric lead may fall onto leafy vegetables. Cans with soldered seams can also add lead to foods.

Pesticides and other endocrine disrupter chemicals

¿What is the best way to treat my roach problem?

Hygiene measures are key. Cockroaches are found where there is water and food. Eating should be discouraged in areas other than in the kitchen. All foodstuffs should be stored in closed containers. Water sources should be eliminated by caulking cracks around faucets and pipe fittings.

Reference:

Committee on Environmental Health, AAP. Pediatric Environmental Health, AAP,1999.