IDAI Warns of Air Pollution Dangers for Children Living Near Main Roads
The Indonesian Paediatric Society (IDAI) has issued a warning for parents to be more vigilant about exposure to air pollution, especially for children living in high-traffic areas such as roadsides or near toll roads. Motor vehicle emissions are known to be one of the main factors increasing the risk of serious health problems in children.
A member of IDAI’s Respirology Coordination Working Unit, Dr. Cynthia Centauri, Sp.A., Subsp.Respi.(K), explained that residential locations close to major roads make children more susceptible to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP). “Having a house on the side of a major road actually increases the risk of air pollution from road dust or TRAP,” said Dr. Cynthia during an online media seminar titled ‘The Impact of Air Pollution on Children’ on Tuesday (8/7).
Vehicle emissions contain various hazardous substances that can be inhaled and enter the respiratory system. Dr. Cynthia further emphasised that children have a much higher level of vulnerability compared to adults. This is because children inhale two to three times more air, while their lung organs are still in the growth and development stage.
Pollution exposure does not only come from roads. The environment around the home also contributes significantly to the decline in air quality inhaled by children. Other sources of pollution include waste burning, building renovation activities, and exposure to conventional cigarette or electronic cigarette smoke.
During the seminar, Dr. Cynthia presented the case of a three-year-old child who experienced recurrent respiratory tract infections. This condition occurred after the family moved to a house near a toll road. The health problem was exacerbated by environmental factors such as a neighbour renovating a house, waste burning activities, and the father’s habit of using electronic cigarettes in the home environment.
The accumulation of these various pollution sources can trigger a range of chronic health problems in children. As a precautionary measure, IDAI urged the public to control the sources of pollution around them. Parents are asked not to burn rubbish, to create a smoke-free environment, and to keep children away from locations undergoing renovation.
Additionally, parents are advised to regularly monitor air quality through applications before taking their children outdoors. The use of masks is highly recommended for children over the age of three if the air quality is in the poor category. “Air pollution does not only come from outside the home, but is an accumulation of exposure from the living environment and daily activities that can impact children’s health,” she concluded.