Richmond Parents Monthly | Richmond magazine for families

Air—a transparent mix of gasses, mostly nitrogen and oxygen—it has been referred to as the ocean in which we humans live. We inhale air an average of twenty times per minute. Since it’s everywhere, invisible and free, most of us take air for granted. Yet, in the Richmond area by July of this year, the air pollution index had already exceeded healthful levels at least ten times. You don’t need to be an environmental activist to realize that when the air we breathe makes it routinely dangerous for children to go outside to play, something needs to change.

Outside Air Quality Twenty-three percent of the population of the United States lives in areas with levels of particle pollution that are unhealthy year-round, according to KidsHealth.org. Fortunately, the air in the Richmond area is (so far) more often healthy than not. However, because we are subject to days of unsafe pollution levels, parents should monitor the outdoor air quality on a daily basis, and plan accordingly. One way to do this is to check the Virginia Air Quality Index online. (Visit deq.state.va.us. Click on Air Quality Forecasts.)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created the Air Quality Index to measure the levels of five major air pollutants. As of this year, Virginia has raised its standards to match those set by the EPA. According to David Paylor, the director of Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, “The change was based on health studies indicating that ozone can cause health problems at lower concentrations than previously known.”

Unfortunately, we have built our lives around sources of energy that create pollution. The good news is that less consumption is not only better for air-quality, it’s better for your budget. Even small steps can have a significant impact, especially as more of us begin to implement them.

• Turn off lights and appliances when they are not needed. Don’t forget the “energy thieves,” like computers, DVD players and other electronics that keep sipping power

• Turn your thermostat up at least 1-2 degrees in the summer, and down 1-2 degrees in winter. • Replace incandescent bulbs with compact florescent ones.

• Use the clothesline instead of dryers. (This will also cut down on dust inside your home.

• Avoid burning yard debris or brush.

• When you have to drive, use carpools and fuel-efficient vehicles. Make it a goal to take at least one less car trip per week

• Park and walk instead of idling in carpool lines and drive-throughs. Idling not only burns unnecessary gas, it creates a dangerous cloud of exhaust around you and the children.

• Consider joining Governor Kaine’s Safe Routes to School initiative, and walk or bike with your kids instead of driving.

Indoor Air Quality

According to the EPA’s Guide to Indoor Air Quality, “health effects may show up either years after exposure has occurred or only after long or repeated periods of exposure. These effects, which include some respiratory diseases, heart disease, and cancer, can be severely debilitating or fatal. It is prudent to try to improve the indoor air quality in your home even if symptoms are not noticeable.”

The first question is whether to close up the house. Many sources recommend that parents keep their children inside on days when there are ozone or pollution warnings. However, this only helps if the air inside your house is cleaner than the air out-side!

According to the EPA, there are many potential sources of pollution within our homes. “These include combustion sources such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, wood, and tobacco products; building materials and furnishings as diverse as deteriorated, asbestos-containing insulation, wet or damp carpet, and cabinetry or furniture made of certain pressed wood products which emit formaldehyde; products for household cleaning and maintenance, personal care, or hobbies; central heating and cooling systems and humidification devices.” You may want to take an inventory of potential problems. Even if you can’t remove all the pollutants immediately, becoming familiar with them will help you to make informed choices in the areas you can control.

For example, most of us harbor gallons of scary toxic chemicals that we’ve been convinced we need to keep our homes clean. However, plenty of effective, biodegradable, non-aerosol, and non-toxic household cleaning products exist. If you’re not sure what to buy, read the labels and select products free of petroleum-based surfactants, chlorine and phosphates. Get rid of scented room fresheners; they often contain formaldehyde, a respiratory irritant. Check that any gas appliances vent to the outdoors. Finally, never permit smoking in your house or car.

Allergens such as dust mites, mold, and pet dander can also be problematic for children, especially those who are asthmatic or allergic. You can fight the mites by using special pillow and mattress covers, washing bedding in hot water (over 130 degrees), and reducing or eliminating curtains, rugs and stuffed animals, especially in the bedroom. Forced-air heating or cooling systems can also harbor dust and mold, so clean your ducts and change air filters often. To discourage mold-growth, keep the humidity below 50% (use your air conditioner or a dehumidifier, if needed), and circulate plenty of dry air through bathrooms, basements and kitchens. If your child has asthma, you may want to block or filter the ducts in her bedroom or playroom, and keep the pets out.

Asthma and the Air

For a child with asthma, breathing can seem more like a luxury than a right: a precious gift that might be snatched away at any moment.

According to the American Lung Association, by 2006 nearly seven million children in the U.S. were suffering from asthma, and the numbers are rising. Children with this chronic condition may experience episodes of wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and trouble breathing. Other signs include whistling sounds when your child exhales, shortness of breath or rapid breathing, tightness, pain or odd sensations in the chest and fatigue. In infants, problems feeding, and grunting during suckling may be noticed.

During asthma attacks, the airways become inflamed and constricted. Attacks can be frightening and stressful for both parent and child. In some cases, breathing may be so labored that the attack becomes life threatening.

Although there is no cure for asthma, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, it can usually be controlled. Diagnosing asthma can be difficult, however, because the symptoms overlap with those of other respiratory ailments, and because children can appear symptom-free for long periods between attacks. If you suspect your child may have asthma, it’s important to have him or her tested and examined by a physician.

Brenda Childs’ daughter, Nyla, now three, experienced respiratory problems starting at the age of ten weeks, including frequent bouts of bronchitis, the croup and pneumonia. She says that before Nyla’s asthma was under control, “she couldn’t run and play normally without running out of breath and panting, eventually turning to coughing and wheezing.”

Nyla was diagnosed with asthma at 24 months and started on preventative medication. Her mom reports, “It was like night and day! She was able to run and play and be active without coughing and wheezing and she was able to get over a simple cold much easier.” Unfortunately, with the onset of winter, Nyla again began to suffer. “It was so hard seeing her wake at night and cough until she puked ─ night after night,” says Childs.

After Nyla’s doctor adjusted her preventative medications, she was back to her old self. This kind of change is common with asthma, so it’s important to visit your doctor any time your child’s symptoms worsen.

Although medications can help manage asthma attacks, the best strategy is to identify and avoid your child’s asthma triggers ─ the things that can cause an attack. Childs agrees, “We are adamant about her prevention care, so she can lead a normal life.”

Not all asthmatics respond to the same triggers, so careful observation of your child is crucial. Possible triggers include:

•Allergens, such as mold, pollen and pet dander and food allergies

•Irritants, such as smoke, ozone, car exhaust and fumes from aerosols and cooking gas

• Weather, especially cold air and changes in weather

• Faster breathing brought on by laughing, exercise or emotional duress

• Respiratory infections, such as the flu or a cold

• Certain medications, including beta-blockers, aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

• Sulfites (preservatives added to some perishable foods like dried fruits)

Although things like the weather and flu may be out of your control, you can reduce or eliminate your child’s exposure to many of these potential triggers. To learn more, contact CARMA (Controlling Asthma in the Richmond Metropolitan Area), an organization dedicated to helping children with asthma through various education and outreach programs.

Asthmatics are not the only ones who suffer from poor air quality. They are simply the proverbial canary in the coal mine—the first to react to contaminants that can hurt healthy kids, too, because they have faster breathing rates than adults, and lungs that are still developing.

The air belongs to us all. If we apply the principles of “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle” whenever possible, not only will the air be cleaner, so will the rest of the earth. Our children, and children for generations to come, deserve the same chance we had: to go outside, to run and play in clean, fresh air.

Melanie Lamaga divides her time between Richmond and Ensenada, Mexico. She specializes in environmental writing and photography

Resources

American Lung Association lungusa.org

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology aaaai.org

CARMA (Controlling Asthma in the Richmond Metropolitan Area) carmakids.org

Nemours Foundation, Kid’s Health KidsHealth.org

Mayo Clinic mayoclinic.com

Natural Resources Defense Council nrdc.org

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency epa.gov

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality deq.state.va.us