Pollution and tobacco, risks to the health of children.

-lung is the most affected organ that develops during childhood and adolescence

-at the beginning of the fall occurs between 20 and 25% of school children with asthma admissions

-atmospheric pollution caused by traffic and industry exposure increases the risk of diseases respiratory in adulthood

-At age 14 adolescents begin smoking in a usual way

Spain, 2011-September in its commitment to the prevention and respiratory health, SEPAR, the Spanish society for Pneumology and thoracic surgery, before the start of the course recalls the importance of protecting the youngest of respiratory diseases that have their origin in the environmental pollution, in particular air pollution caused by gases and particles emitted by the transport and industries, but above the harmful effects of tobacco.

Respiratory diseases professionals believe appropriate to this reminder because the lungs are a body of development especially slow, still maturing during the stage child and adolescence and why it is one of the organs most affected by exposure to pollution ”. As explained by Dr. Juan Ruiz Manzano, President of SEPAR, the lungs are not developed at birth, even a child of 8 years, they develop until around the age of 18 ”. It is this development through childhood and adolescence, which the health of this body can be seen especially altered by pollutant factors of air with effects that can lead to chronic respiratory diseases in adulthood. Effects of the exposure range from malformations in the prenatal period to childhood asthma or chronic pulmonary obstruction in adulthood.

According to the who (World Health Organization) 30% of childhood diseases are associated with the environment. In developed countries the main two triggers are air pollution and tobacco, either for their own consumption or for consumption of the parents.

Numerous studies have shown the effects of the children of mothers who smoke tobacco. Thus, the size and weight of babies of mothers persistent smokers is lower than in babies of mothers who do not smoke. Similarly, children who suffer exposure pre and post natal tobacco have increased risk of respiratory infections in the first years of life and be diagnosed asthma.

On the other hand, the chest also show their concern by age of onset of tobacco use, which in our country stands at the age of 13. As points out Dr. Eusebi Chiner, Secretary General of SEPAR at the age of 13 tobacco, tested at 14 smoking on a daily basis and between 18 and 29 is when condenses more smokers Strip, 33.7% ”. And remember the possibility of disease of heart is proportional to the number of cigarettes smoked per day and the number of years which maintains this harmful habit ”. Therefore young people to start soon in this habit, multiply the possibilities of developing some kind of respiratory disease, tumor, or cardiovascular complication as adults.

Another factor causing respiratory infections in childhood or with sequelae in adulthood is air pollution. It is estimated that 35% of the Spanish population breathe polluted air but they are the two extremes of life, the newborn infants and older persons, the most vulnerable to the effects of pollution in cities ” explains Dr. Chiner

to be aware of the risks of contaminationSEPAR recalls how children who live less than 300 metres from Highway have less lung development which the residing at 1,500 meters, because of the toxicity of diesel engines. The reduction of child pulmonary function is a known risk factor in development and worsening of asthma and the later development of COPD (pulmonary obstruction disease).

Similarly, children and people with asthma are most affected by exposure to concentrations of NO2 which relate to chronic respiratory diseases, premature aging of the lung and the decline of its functional capacity.

As important as the family environment, the school is a favourable space to educate children of the importance of preserving the quality of the air and explain to them that tobacco is a pollutant more and more harmful to health ” says Dr. Ruiz Manzano.

SEPAR believes it is important to offer students the opportunity to meet the need for respect, care for and improve the air that surrounds us and at the same time, show you how your health is seriously affected by the quality of the air we breathe. In this sense, makes available to all teachers and parents three didactic units dedicated to the quality of the air and lung health that can be found here.