Long-Lasting effects
Air pollution exposure in early childhood can have long-term consequences. Children who are born prematurely or with low birth weight because of a mother’s exposure to air pollution during pregnancy are at high risk of cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, hypertension, and diabetes later in life (14, 15). Similarly, stunted lung growth caused by air pollution can result in impaired lung development and put children at higher risk for chronic respiratory diseases. Lung injury caused by air pollution also puts individuals at higher risk of hospitalization and death from respiratory infections like COVID-19 (16).
Children Don’t Choose
Most air pollution is caused by human action and specifically by the burning of fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas. (12). Fossil fuel combustion accounts for 85% of PM2.5 pollution and nearly all pollution by nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides. Fossil fuel combustion is also the major cause of climate change.
Children have no voice in decisions about whether to burn fossil fuels and yet they are the members of our society who suffer the most serious consequences from these decisions. Moreover, it is our children and their children who will suffer the greatest injury from climate change – the major long-term consequence of fossil fuel combustion. It is morally imperative that we do our best to protect children from the adverse effects of a world they didn’t create.
Ozone is a major factor in causing asthma (or making it worse), and nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide can also cause asthma, bronchial symptoms, lung inflammation and reduced lung function.
Globally, lower respiratory infections are the second leading cause of death for children under 5 years. Every year, 442 000 children (as of 2022) younger than 5 years die prematurely from breathing polluted air.
Air pollution has a disastrous effect on children; there were more than 5 million deaths of children under the age of 5 years. More than 27% of those deaths – 1.7 million – were attributable to environmental factors, with air pollution foremost among them. –World Heath Organization
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While you´re here:
Best buggies for small cars
If you live in a city and are far more likely to traverse public transport than you are a country lane, a compact travel buggy can absolutely be the only investment you need make.
Which pushchairs are best for small cars?
Small and foldable pushchairs will lend themselves well to fitting into the boot of your car. Better still, an especially helpful feature to consider is whether the chassis is compatible with a car seat. This will make transporting your child to and from the car less of a hassle, while it can also save you some space.
Can the prams collapse as one unit?
Collapse mechanisms with buggies and pushcairs vary, but there are models that allow you to collapse your buggy with one quick and easy motion, often with the click of a button. Then there are models that require a few steps to fold down – these may not always be as compact as those that can close in one simple motion.
Other good resources:
https://www.madeformums.com/reviews/10-of-the-most-compact-folding-buggies/
