Air quality and child health
‘Air quality’ describes how clean or polluted the air is. Children are more affected by air pollution because their lungs are still developing. They often spend more time outdoors, breathe faster and breathe in more air for their body size than adults. Poor air quality can make children feel unwell and worsen existing medical conditions, such as asthma. There are steps you can take to help protect children when air quality is poor.
What can affect air quality?
Air quality can be affected by many different sources of pollution. Some sources may be more common depending on where you live.
- Wildfires: Wildfires have become a growing concern each year as temperatures rise in Canada. Northern communities are often most impacted, but wildfire smoke can travel hundreds of kilometres from the fire and affect air quality in other areas. In Canada, wildfire season usually runs from early April to October and may become longer due to climate change.
- Traffic: In cities, traffic is a major source of air pollution. Cars and trucks can pollute the air through exhaust, fuel vapors and dust from tires and brakes. This is more of a concern in cities and areas close to major roads.
- Construction: Construction and demolition can make air quality worse through dust and emissions from trucks and machines. These activities are most common in cities.
How poor air quality can affect children
Poor air quality can cause symptoms in children. Mild symptoms may include:
- burning, watery or red eyes
- mild cough
- mild headache
- fatigue
- skin irritation or worsening eczema
- worsening allergies
More serious symptoms may include:
- persistent or severe cough
- difficulty breathing
- chest tightness or pain
- trouble keeping up with usual physical activity
- worsening asthma symptoms, such as needing a rescue inhaler more often
- confusion or being much sleepier than usual
Which children are more at risk when air quality is poor?
Some children are more likely to experience health problems when air quality is poor. This includes children with:
- asthma
- eczema
- allergies
- lung conditions, such as cystic fibrosis or bronchopulmonary dysplasia
These children may be more likely to have symptoms when air quality is poor. Poor air quality may also make their existing condition worse. Infants and younger children are also generally more vulnerable to poor air quality.
How to protect your child when air quality is poor
When air quality is poor, try to reduce how much outdoor air pollution your child is exposed to. You can reduce or reschedule outdoor activities and move activities indoors when possible. Watch your child for symptoms and check local air quality information.
If your child has asthma, make sure they take their regular medicines as prescribed and follow their asthma action plan. Keep their rescue inhaler readily available.
How to use the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI)
The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a scale from 1 to 10+ that can help you decide if it is safe for your child to be active outdoors. The higher the number, the greater the health risk. The AQHI looks at the levels of different air pollutants. You can find AQHI levels on most phone weather apps or on the Government of Canada AQHI summary.
Use this table along with your child’s symptoms and health needs when planning outdoor activities. If your child is in a high-risk group, you may want to restrict outdoor time when AQHI scores are high.
Should I close the windows when air quality is poor?
Yes, closing the windows is an easy way to reduce the amount of outdoor air pollution that gets into your home. You can also use an air purifier or HEPA air cleaner in small spaces. Most central air conditioning systems recirculate the air inside your home. If you use a window or wall air conditioning unit, make sure the vent setting is in the closed position so that it does not bring in outdoor air. However, if your home is dangerously hot, keeping your child cool is the priority. If you do not have air conditioning, you may need to open the windows.
Should my child wear a mask when air quality is poor?
Basic surgical or cloth masks will not filter out most of the small particles that cause poor air quality. A properly fitted N95 mask can reduce the amount of these particles that your child breathes in, but N95 masks can be hard for young children to wear correctly. Wearing a mask should not replace staying indoors and avoiding outdoor activity when air quality is poor.
When should I seek emergency medical attention for my child?
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department right away if your child has any of these symptoms:
- severe difficulty breathing
- chest pain
- blue lips or fingertips
- confusion or not responding as usual
- for a child with asthma, needing their rescue inhaler sooner than every 4 hours