Your children’s health put at risk by indoor air pollution

• Indoor air pollution is an often overlooked issue affecting health. The impacts are significant: respiratory and heart diseases, concentration and sleeping problems, increased chance of developing cancer, allergies, but also sleeping and concentration problems... Children are particularly vulnerable to this type of pollution.

• Polluted indoor air

  Alarming figures

  The air in our buildings is on average 8 times more polluted than the air outside.

  This is a very alarming problem given that we spend up to 90% of our time indoors. Indeed, it is often difficult to spend several hours outside every day. For our children, who spend most of their day at school or at home, the situation is the same; according to a study carried out in 10 countries, 74% of children in the UK get outdoors for less than an hour a day!

  The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 4.3 million premature deaths per year are caused by this pollution.

  Many possible sources

  Among the possible sources of poor indoor air quality are often our own everyday activities (cooking, heating, cleaning, etc.) and the release of polluting substances from products and objects(furniture, walls, candles, etc.). Indoor air pollution has been increasing for several decades, partly due to the increased insulation of our buildings. Indeed, by insulating, we reduce natural ventilation and thus the circulation of air allowing pollutants to disperse.

  Health risks for children

  Although it affects the health of the whole population, indoor air pollution particularly damages the health of sensitive people, such as the elderly, people with respiratory and heart diseases and children. Children are still developing; their bodies are not fully mature, preventing them from detoxifying as effectively as adults. A faster metabolism also leads to a greater absorption of substances. This, in addition to their size and breathing rate (faster than that of adults), makes them particularly vulnerable to air pollution.

  The potential health risks are numerous:

  Respiratory and heart diseases, headaches, increased risk of developing cancer, allergies or asthma, among many (many) others. Children can also develop attention and concentration disorders, IQ deficit, or hyperactivity...

  An issue that needs to be tackled

  Children's health is paramount, and it is therefore imperative to maintain healthy household air. There are different possible solutions to prevent pollution and improve Indoor Air Quality; you can find out more in the article “10 tips to preserve your home’s air quality”.

  Many committed brands already offer low-emission products for your indoor air; you can find them here.

• Sources: L'ONE (Office des Naissance et de l'Enfance) - La qualité de l'air intérieur & Des gestes simples à notre portée, Service Public de Wallonie - Environnement , l'OMS (Organisation Mondiale de la Santé), Clear the air for children - Unicef 2016, Dirt is Good - Study by Persil.