It's sunny, warm, clear sky, and a mostly wind-free day. What could be better for a day outside in the sunshine? But before you pack a picnic lunch and head for the park or plan that bike trip with kids, there is an important health check to make. And it's one that can impact whether young children can play outdoors or whether alternative inside activities should be planned.
The downer to summertime fun? Poor air quality, which can aggravate asthma and affect those with any type of respiratory weakness--especially the very young and our senior population. And the culprits are typically ground-level ozone and airborne particles, two pollutants that pose the greatest threat to human health in the United States, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Parents and child care providers need to be careful and thorough in monitoring outdoor air quality on a daily basis as well as knowing the full medical history of any children in their care. Children with respiratory illnesses or asthma can become very ill with ozone exposure on unhealthful days. The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources cites on its web site that ozone can aggravate asthma, causing more attaches, increased use of medication, more medical treatment, and more visits to hospital emergency clinics. The site also cites that 1.6 million emergency room visits are due to asthma in the U.S., and 17 percent of all pediatric emergency room visits are for asthma. Further, 40 percent of the asthmatic population are children. So, what does this mean for parents and child care providers? Ozone awareness and preventative action!
What exactly is ozone?
Ozone, also known as smog, irritates the respiratory system. Ozone is formed when a mixture of air pollutants "bake" in the hot, summer sun. Exposure to high ozone levels can cause shortness of breath, pain with deep inhalation often referenced as chest tightness, coughing and wheezing, phlegm, headaches, nausea, and eye and throat irritation. In other words, pollution can really wreak havoc on people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children--especially infants and toddlers.
How is ozone recognized?
The irony of ozone is that it is often at its unhealthiest levels on days considered the most beautiful in which to be outdoors. Pollutants, released from sources such as automobiles and factories, exacerbate the situation. When ozone levels are high, the forecast usually calls for sunshine, clear sky, temperatures above 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and little or no wind.
When is it at its highest levels?
Ozone's highest levels usually occur between the hottest times of the day, typically between noon and 6 p.m., from May through September. Meteorologists can predict high ozone days, because weather influences of the formation of ground-level ozone. Many, if not most, communities and states have a process in place for issuing high ozone alerts to citizens. The key is to be informed and aware, and to plan activities accordingly. That's not to say that most people cannot be outdoors on high ozone days. Morning hours are best for being outside, and if outside in the afternoon, avoid strenuous activities or exertion.
Are healthy children still at risk on ozone action days?
The answer is yes, although the effect may or may not be immediately noticeable. Medical studies have shown that ozone exposure causes inflammation, with unhealthy effects continuing for days after exposure. Children often love to play outside on summer afternoons, but because their lungs are still developing, they breathe more rapidly and inhale more air pollution per pound of body weight than adults. These factors are what put children at increased risk for respiratory ailments.
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