Why is Air Pollution Education Important?
Air pollution is a frequent problem in major metropolitan areas in the United States, and one of its primary components is ozone. This widespread pollutant can be found in cities across the nation. Ozone can cause numerous health problems, particularly among children and other sensitive people.
Children in the Houston-Galveston area are exposed to more ozone air pollution than most kids around the country, particularly during warm, dry summer months. Our local ozone levels have exceeded federal health standards for several decades, and are among the worst in the country.
Too much ozone in the air we breathe can cause coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, watery eyes and scratchy throats. It can also trigger asthma attacks and intensify allergic reactions. Children suffer more than adults from the health consequences of ozone air pollution because:
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their lungs and immune systems are still developing.
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pound for pound, they breathe in 50% more air than adults.
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they tend to spend more time outdoors than adults, especially during the summer, when ozone levels are highest.
- they tend to participate in more vigorous outdoor activities than most adults.
