It’s no secret that air pollution is becoming an increasingly serious problem these days. Today, we’re breaking down how indoor air pollution can affect your baby and why an air purifier could be just the thing you needed for your nursery.
The nursery is where the……pollution is.
When we think of air pollution, most of our thoughts go to sources outside the home. Sadly, pollution doesn’t just live outdoors. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor pollutants may be up to 100 times higher than outdoor levels at times.
In saying this, while you may be excited to get your nursery finished for baby, it could lead to more consequences than you think. Doing things such as painting, adding new furniture, rugs, carpet or decorations could add harmful VOCs to the air, making the nursery one of the most unsafe places in the home. A study from the Department of Health, found compounds release from some paints lead to higher risk of asthma and allergies in children. Other sources in the nursery include: stains, varnishes, carpet backing, foam padding, pressed wood used in furniture, and glue/ adhesives.
Yes, your baby is more susceptible
Besides the pollution itself, babies and toddlers face higher risks of air pollution due to a multitude of reasons. Here’s why:
- Weakened Immune System: A baby’s immune system is not fully developed, leaving them more at risk to illness. More specifically, according to the American Lung Association, children have more respiratory infections, thus increasing their susceptibility to the negative side effects air pollution.
- Growing Pains: Pollution is more impactful during infancy and childhood, as organs are rapidly are growing. During a baby’s growth and development, they are more vulnerable to inflammation and other damage caused by pollutants.
- Breathing patterns: On average, babies breathe more rapidly than adults. Thus, they have more opportunity to inhale bad air particles. This is why your newly painted nursery could have serious consequences with things such as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s.)
- Crawling cooties: Look, we know it’s called air pollution and all, but eventually a lot of these particles end up on the floor. Your baby’s playground during the first few years of life could be a zest pool of harmful particles. Not to mention newborns spend a majority of their time in the home.
- Allergies: About 1 in 6 children have an indoor allergy. Let’s not forget our furry friends, too! Nearly 40% of children have allergies to pets. Air purifiers can remove pet dander, mold spores and other particles that worsen allergies.
- Asthma: Pollutant allergens can exuberate asthma. Suggestive evidence shows that household pollutants and technologies have been associated with the development of asthma in children. Studies show around 50-80 perfect of children who end up with asthma develop symptoms before they turn 5.
The side effects
There were approximately 3.8 million deaths last year due to household pollutants alone. All of these pollutants can lead to respiratory problems and other long-term health issues. In 2016, around 543,000 deaths in children under 5 were attributed to joint effects of ambient and household air pollution. Indoors, pollution from cooking and ambient air pollution causes more than 50% of acute lower respiratory tract infection in children under 5 years old. Those exposed to air pollution early in life are more likely to have adverse effects throughout adulthood.
A new home guest you’ll want to stay long-term…
As more studies come out, clean air is becoming more and more important for short-term and long-term health. One preventative measure is getting your baby an air purifier. They work their magic by eliminating 99.97% of particles including bacteria, VOC’s, and allergens in the room. How? First, an anti-bacterial Pre-Filter will take care of larger particles. Second, a HEPA H13 filter will that take care of the finest particles. Lastly, an Active Carbon filter will remove odors and VOC from the air. Besides these nitty gritty benefits, some can also free negative ions to achieve fresh, light air that’s comfortable to breathe. Air purifiers help prevent symptoms of allergens, too so it’s a win-win in our book!