Ozone Action: Are Kids Safe Outside?

Printed in the Family Post: Back to School Issue 2007

Before heading outside 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.

Parents and child care providers need to be careful and thorough in monitoring local ozone levels on a daily basis during the summer. The key is to be informed and aware, and to plan activities accordingly.

Children with respiratory illnesses or asthma can become very ill with ozone exposure on unhealthful days. The American Lung Association cites on its web site that ozone can aggravate asthma, causing more attacks, 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. Ozone is invisible.

Are Healthy Children 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.

What will Happen to My Child if S/He is Exposed to Ozone During an Advisory?

People exposed to elevated levels of ozone may experience a variety of symptoms. The most common symptom is a feeling of irritation in the eyes, nose and throat. Some people may also experience respiratory or heart symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and wheezing. Even without such symptoms, people exposed to ozone may have changes in their lung function that can last for several days before returning to normal. Some people experience these effects as “feeling tired” or “lacking energy.”

Why Are Children More Susceptible to Ozone Than Adults?

Children may look like miniature adults, but they’re not. Air pollution is especially dangerous to them because their lungs are growing and because they are so active.

Just like the arms and legs, the largest portion of a child’s lungs will grow long after he or she is born. Eighty percent of their tiny air sacs develop after birth. Those sacs, called the alveoli, are where the lifesustaining feeding of oxygen to the blood takes place. The lungs and their alveoli aren’t fully grown until they are adults. In addition, the body’s defenses that help adults fight off infections are still developing in young bodies. Children have more respiratory infections than adults, which also seems to increase their susceptibility to air pollution. Furthermore, children don’t behave like adults, which also affects their vulnerability. They are outside for longer periods and are usually more active when outdoors. Consequently, they inhale more polluted outdoor air than adults typically do.

What Can I Do to Reduce My Exposure During an Ozone Advisory?

There are several steps that individuals can take. Whenever possible, try to limit outdoor activities during peak ozone hours. Schedule outdoor exercise or activities for the morning hours when ozone levels are generally lower. Staying indoors may help, since indoor ozone levels tend to be lower than outdoor levels. Ozone advisories are issued based on predicted ozone levels, and there may be days when ozone levels rise higher than were forecasted. Individuals can reduce their exposure to ozone by adjusting their outdoor activity schedules when weather conditions favor ozone production, whether or not an advisory has been issued. Individuals should consider consulting their physician if they experience a worsening of their respiratory or heart symptoms.

Health Tips to Consider:

Know what the ozone level is in your community. To check the ozone levels in our area, you can go to www.sparetheair.com. you can also sign up to be alerted via email on high ozone days.

Know your child care provider’s or school’s policy for outdoor play in the summer and how air quality is monitored by staff. it’s important for parents to ask questions about outdoor play, what a provider’s practices are and how they monitor air quality. Find out specifically at what level a care provider changes outdoor activities to inside, or whether afternoon programs could be switched to mornings on certain days for better air quality.

The information in this article comes from the American Lung Association website at www.lungusa.org. Marina Bernheimer is co-founder of Save The Air in Nevada County (STA in NC). She lives in Nevada City with her husband and two children