Leading pediatricians have called for phasing out wood-burning appliances in urban homes to protect children’s health.
A new position statement from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) calls for stronger government action to tackle air pollution.
One of the new key recommendations is to “phase out domestic wood burning in urban areas, support rural dwellers to move away from wood as their main heating source, and support those in fuel poverty with fuel cost subsidies.”
dangerous
Other measures to protect children include monitoring air quality around schools and giving local authorities new powers to take action when pollution exceeds safe levels.
The RCPCH also said it wanted the ELLA Act to be implemented and for the government to comply with World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality guidelines.
Ella’s Law is named after Ella Roberta Adu Kishi Debra, who died in 2013 at the age of nine from asthma caused by excessive air pollution in London.
She was the first Briton to have air pollution listed as the cause of death by a coroner.
RCPCH also wants to see Awab laws implemented and expanded to protect private tenants from hazardous living conditions such as damp, mould and more.
Irreversibly
It was named after two-year-old Awab Ishaq, who died in 2020 from a respiratory illness caused by “extensive” mold in a one-room apartment.
The RCPCH says the UK government must commit to ensuring that half of urban journeys are made by walking or cycling, with accessible public transport, by 2030.
Dr Mike McKean, RCPCH Vice President of Policy and Paediatric Respiratory Consultant, said: “This year air pollution officially overtook high blood pressure and smoking as the leading cause of disease worldwide.
“Exposure to air pollution is now the second highest risk factor for death among children under five, both globally and in the UK.
“As a consultant in respiratory paediatrics, I am particularly concerned about the impact of air pollution on children’s lung development.
“Breathing dirty air during childhood can irreversibly stop lung growth, affect lung capacity into adulthood, and in some cases, even lead to death.
particle
“As pediatricians, we want to ensure that no child ever suffers like Ella and Awaab.”
Dr Emily Parker, RCPCH clinical fellow, said: “As a doctor working in a paediatric emergency department, I see the impact of air pollution on children almost every shift.
“I want to protect them from this avoidable harm, but there are limits to what I or clinicians can do through clinical practice.
“That is why we urge the government to prioritize national action and take steps to address the two main causes of air pollutants most harmful to children’s health: PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide.
conditions
“In 2021, the World Health Organization proposed new evidence-based targets for these pollutants, but governments have not yet committed to meeting these guidelines, which aim to protect human health.
“Air pollution limits across the UK are currently set dangerously high, often four times higher than WHO guidelines, and there are no government plans to reduce these levels.”
According to the RCPCH, PM2.5 is one of the most harmful air pollutants and can be inhaled deep into the lungs and absorbed into the bloodstream.
This can affect a child’s developing organs and increase the likelihood of developing long-term health problems as an adult.
Prevent
The report found that children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution because they breathe more air relative to their body weight than adults, inhale pollutants close to the ground, such as vehicle exhaust fumes, and are less able than adults to control their exposure.
Professor Stephen Holgate, special adviser on air quality at the Royal College of Physicians, said: “The economic burden of air pollution, the avoidable burden on the NHS and the harm caused by poor indoor air quality are further evidence that we must take decisive action.”
“We particularly support RCPCH’s call for the expansion of clean air laws and Awaab laws, both of which are essential to protecting the most vulnerable and ensuring a healthier environment for all…
“There is no doubt that purifying the air we all depend on for life could prevent many diseases and save countless lives.”
This author
Jane Kirby is PA Health Editor.
