Pollution in Delhi: How can children be protected from toxic air in the home? 5 prevention tips

Children are more prone to developing respiratory problems due to weakened immunity amid rising pollution in Delhi. Here’s how we can protect them at home.

Air Pollution in Delhi: Air pollution is a major global health problem, and children are particularly vulnerable to its effects. Increasing toxicity in the air is causing a spike in breathing and lung problems among people living in Delhi-NCR. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi still stands at ‘very poor quality’. Air pollution puts children at greater risk. Their lungs are still developing and they are more likely to breathe faster than adults, meaning they absorb more pollutants.

Air pollution can cause a range of health problems in children, including asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and heart disease. It can also damage their developing lungs and brains. There are a number of things parents can do to protect their children from air pollution.

DELHI POLLUTION: TIPS TO PROTECT CHILDREN AT HOME

1. Limit your child’s exposure to air pollution: One of the best ways to protect your child from air pollution is to limit exposure to it. This means avoiding busy roads and other areas with high levels of air pollution. Avoid outdoor activities on days when air quality is poor. Keep children away from smokers. Passive smoking is a major source of air pollution and is especially harmful to children.
2. Improve indoor air quality: Even if you take steps to limit your child’s exposure to outdoor air pollution, the child may still be exposed to pollutants indoors. To improve indoor air quality, use air purifiers and humidifiers to keep the inside of the house cleaner and less toxic.
3. Healthy Diet: Maintain a healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals that helps boost immunity. It is important for children to focus on their nutritional habits during their developing years. It can help fight throat infections and inflammation and protect the body from external infections.
4. Breathing exercises: Regular exercise is necessary for everyone. However, children should practice pranayam, deep breathing exercises to increase the health and capacity of the lungs.
5. Source of pollution: The first step to protecting children from air pollution is understanding the sources of air pollution in your community. Common sources of air pollution include: Vehicles, factories, power plants, construction sites, etc. Once you know the sources of air pollution in your community, you can take steps to avoid them and reduce your child’s exposure.

One of the best ways to protect your child from air pollution is to advocate for clean air in your community. Contact your elected officials and support policies that reduce air pollution. You can also get involved in local efforts to improve air quality, such as planting trees or volunteering for a clean air advocacy group.