High levels of air pollution fatigue the brain structure of the little ones.
The scientists of Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology of Barcelona talk about “down effect” referring to the cerebral slowdown that can affect children exposed to high levels of pollution. The study published in the Epidemiology magazine, shows as children, exposed to traffic-related contamination during the way to school, would make more effort to follow their lessons in the classroom, taking longer to answer to questions and accusing, in general, concentration difficulties.
During days characterized by high peaks of air pollution increase the risks of depression, psychosis and early dementias.
Also the University of Turin (Italy) has showed that the pollution would be responsible even of genetic mutations and DNA alterations.
Study analyses
The study has concerned a sample of 2.600 students from 7 to 10 years, with some evaluation tests of the ability to be careful at school and comparing the results with the fluctuations in the quality of the air. The experts explain that chronic exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in preadolescent children is associated with subclinical changes in the caudate nucleus of their brains.
Prevent is better to cure
In the light of all this we ask ourselves: if the outside air is polluted, what our child breathe in their classrooms? At school are there some ventilations system? If so, are they subject to a periodic constant maintenance?
Filter outside air is essential for the health.
Current regulatory obligations provide the protection of well-being of the students. There are some minimum requirements that working places have to own for being conform and guarantee adapt welfare conditions.
The first valued aspect is about ventilation of closed places, that has always to be guarantee preferentially with windows and, if this is not possible, with periodically controlled ventilation systems.
Risk assessment
Evaluate the risks in a school means take in consideration all the aspects defined by legislation and above all the measures to be enforced to reduce such risk factors.
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