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This is the first of two articles on children and respiratory health. Part one examines the effects of poor indoor air quality on children. Part two, coming at the beginning of March, will focus on managing children’s asthma.

anadians spend roughly 90 percent of their time inside homes and buildings that are increasingly airtight and often poorly ventilated. Children can be exposed to indoor air contaminants that derive mainly from human activity, combustion appliances and building materials.

Children are more vulnerable than adults are to indoor air pollution, and exposure to indoor contaminants can have a significant impact on a child’s respiratory system. Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children. The rising number of cases is partly due to poor air quality. Exposure to respiratory allergens at an early age increases the likelihood of health problems such as asthma later in life.

			Why are children so sensitive to poor indoor air quality?
			In proportion to their body mass, children breathe nearly twice as much as adults do Children’s less developed immune systems make them more vulnerable to environmental pollution Children’s curiosity and tendency to explore their surroundings increase their exposure to contaminants

There are many different kinds of contaminants that can affect the quality of the air in your home. Most fall into one of two main categories – biological and chemical contaminants.

Mites are extremely small animals that live in dust and require a warm, humid environment to reproduce. Mite droppings are the main source of allergens in Canadian homes. Mites live primarily in mattresses, pillows and carpets.

Nearly 80 percent of asthmatic children are allergic to mites to some degree. When mite droppings, which are suspended in the air, come into contact with the skin or the respiratory system, they trigger allergic reactions such as asthma, chronic colds and allergic inflammation of the skin (dermatitis).

It is nearly impossible to avoid mite allergens completely, but even a small reduction may help reduce allergic reactions:

• Maintain air humidity below 50 percent
• Increase ventilation in the bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen
• Avoid objects that collect dust (i.e. wall carpets, heavy curtains, non-washable stuffed animals)
• Clean carpets, rugs, sheets and fabric-covered furniture frequently, and use pillow and mattress covers

			How can I reduce humidity?
			Turn on exhaust fans during certain activities (i.e. baths, showers, laundry, cooking) or simply open windows for 10-15 minutes Ensure the dryer exhaust hose is connected to an outside vent Use a dehumidifier, especially on hot and humid days, and place it in appropriate locations (i.e. basement) Do not store firewood indoors Do not hang clothes to dry indoors Limit the use of humidifiers Also read: Measuring humidity in your home

Molds are microscopic fungi that grow where there is moisture, stagnant water and poor ventilation. When enough mold accumulates, it disperses breathable particles that can cause health problems, especially for children (i.e. eye, nose and throat irritations, nasal discharge and congestion, more frequent and serious asthma attacks).

How to prevent mold:

• Keep the air humidity between 30 and 50 percent
• Clean and dry all water damage within 24 to 48 hours
• Dispose of water-damaged porous materials (i.e. mattresses, upholstered or fabric-covered furniture, gypsum board, carpets, ceiling tiles, insulation, etc.)
• Ventilate the house by periodically opening windows or using an air exchange system

How to get rid of mold:

• Dispose of porous items that are moldy
• Immediately remove mold from small areas with an appropriate household cleaning product, and make sure the area is thoroughly dry afterward
• Consider hiring a contractor for large-scale cleaning or renovation projects

Allergens found in the skin, hair, saliva and urine of household pets, especially cats and dogs, may cause or aggravate respiratory allergies.

Five to 14 percent of children are allergic to animals. For asthmatic children, the rate is 40 to 60 percent. Children who are allergic to animals should not have them in the home.

If this cannot be avoided, animal allergens can be reduced if you:

• Limit the amount of carpeting and fabric-covered furniture
• Increase ventilation in the house by opening windows, using fans
• Wash your pet, as well as the floors, every week

Cockroaches are insects that like heat, humidity, darkness and food residue.

Roughly five percent of the general population is allergic to cockroaches. For asthmatics, the rate is 10 to 20 percent. This allergy triggers runny noses, sneezing, and respiratory problems, up to and including asthma attacks.

To reduce the number of cockroaches:

• Never leave food or water out in the open
• Immediately clean spilled food, dirty dishes and household appliances
• Eliminate water leaks and other humidity sources
• Improve lighting
• Seal all cracks in foundations and walls
• Use an approved insecticide formulated for cockroaches

Second-hand smoke is both the smoke a smoker exhales and the smoke produced at the lit end of a burning cigarette. Second-hand smoke is composed of some 4000 chemicals, many of which can cause cancer.

Second-hand smoke exposure aggravates the symptoms of respiratory irritation and, especially among young children, is associated with a higher risk of respiratory infections such as pneumonia, bronchitis and bronchiolitis.

Second-hand smoke is probably a direct cause of asthma if a baby is exposed before the age of twelve months, and contributes to more frequent and severe attacks for older children who already have asthma.

To create a smoke-free home:

• Establish a clear no-smoking policy, with the full participation of any smokers in the home
• Remove all ashtrays from the home
• Set up an outdoor area for people who wish to smoke
• Support the efforts of smokers who are trying to quit

Furnaces, fireplaces and stoves that burn gas, oil or wood are another major source of indoor air pollution.

Carbon Monoxide (CO), whether from a heating appliance or a car idling in the garage, is a devastating and even fatal poison for young children because it can cause suffocation. It is strongly recommended to install CO detectors in houses with combustion appliances.

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), which may be present in the home after using gas for cooking or kerosene for heating, is a powerful lung irritant, especially for children.

To prevent these substances from affecting the air in your home:

• Ensure that appliances are well maintained on a yearly basis
• Avoid using combustion appliances in closed and unventilated spaces

The best known volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are petroleum products such as motor fuels, formaldehyde and acetone. These compounds can leak out of construction materials such as foam insulation, paint, carpets, linoleum, structural timber and floorboards. Aerosol sprays (insecticides, cosmetics, floor wax), adhesives, and cleaning products (detergents, paint thinners, paint removers, stain removers, methyl alcohol) emit VOCs.

Young children are most at risk if exposed to VOCs, because their respiratory systems are not fully developed. VOCs trigger eye, respiratory and digestive tract irritations, headaches, giddiness, dizzy spells and nausea. Some VOCs, like benzene and formaldehyde, can also cause cancer.

To lower the risks associated with VOCs:

• Read labels to check for presence of VOCs
• Limit their use
• Follow their conditions of use and disposal
• Lower their concentration by ensuring proper ventilation

Children are more vulnerable than adults to indoor air pollution. Exposure to indoor contaminants can have a significant impact on a child’s respiratory system, and some chemical contaminants can cause cancer.

You can protect your children from indoor air contaminants by taking a few simple precautions around your home.

If your child already has allergies, diagnostic tests ordered by a doctor may help you gain a better understanding about specific environmental hazards and what you can do about them.