In Barcelona, more than 50% of childhood asthma cases are due to the air pollution. In addition, the environment aggravates infections by rhinovirus and leads to icu to more children with bronchiolitis. But beyond how pollution affects general health and, specifically, that of children, environmental factors also negatively affect the health of unborn babies. Thus, the pregnancy it is a very important “exposure window” to contamination.
It is what follows from 13th lighthouse report, of the Observatory for the promotion of the health of the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu (Esplugues de Llobregat) which also includes a set of recommendations for pregnant women. The document has been coordinated by specialists from the health center and the Institute of Global Health of Barcelona (ISGlobal), a center promoted by the Fundació La Caixa. “We must change the concept of pregnancy. We must be aware that the air that the mother breathes is the air that the child breathes”, He said this Thursday at a press conference Lola Gomez, head of the women’s area of Sant Joan de Déu.
The air pollution, the noise or the pesticides to which pregnant mothers are exposed during pregnancy have detrimental consequences in the health, metabolism, and respiratory and immune functions of fetuses. And not only during the perinatal period, but also during the adulthood. “We recommend that children be in less polluting environments, and the same for mothers. All toxic air particles They go through the mother and, through the umbilical cord, reach the placenta of the fetus”, Gómez insisted. “All this will also influence the adult lives of these children,” has added. That is, it will move to the “future generations”.
Some studies suggest that some environmental contaminants can reach the embryo placenta and even modify the baby’s DNA. Experts advise couples who want to have children to be especially careful with the exposure to these substances avoiding the use at home of products that may contain chemical substances and taking care of the diet, even before conceiving the child.
Air pollution
According to the Faros report, there is a direct relationship between the urban design, how people move and how this affects the environmental exposure. In Barcelona, almost 50% of childhood asthma cases are due to air pollution, according to ISGlobal researchers, and in the world the 93% of children breathe air that does not meet the quality criteria set by the World Health Organization (WHO), a fact that 600,000 premature infant deaths every year.
“We want to highlight the importance of back to nature. It is very evident that live in a more natural environment is beneficial for children’s health”, he said for his part Quique Bassat, ISGlobal pediatrician and epidemiologist. In this sense, the Faros report focuses on the schools, where children spend “most of their time”.
Related news
The Faros report thus proposes interventions in schools to ensure air quality. Specifically, they propose to plant more trees in the patios, to create green walls that generate shadows and create fountains and playgrounds, among others. All this would reduce not only air pollution, but also noise and the heat island effect, while promoting physical activity.
Experts also encourage families to make nature outings. Currently only the 20% of children and adolescents they go out once a month to play outdoors (in their parents’ generation, it was three out of four) and only 10% visit the park each day. The lack of contact with nature drives the sedentary lifestyle and acts as a key factor in increasing the obesity, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, behavioral disorders, behavior, attention, worsening of chronic diseases and lowers vitamin levels.