Dust and childhood asthma: Why kids are more vulnerable to pollution at construction sites

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New Delhi: Construction site dust is more than an annoyance—it’s a serious health risk for kids with asthma. Construction site project dust can invade the home, cause attacks, and even harm growing lungs, placing sensitive kids at risk for the rest of their lives. What follows is how and why it happens, why kids are so vulnerable, and what communities and families can do to do a better job of shielding them.

In interaction with News9Live, Dr Rahul Verma, Director, Neonatology & General Paediatrics, Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, explained how dust and pollution at a construction site can aggravate asthma or increase the likelihood of it occurring.

How does construction dust damage children’s lungs?

Construction dust has particulate matter (PM)—tiny particles like PM₁₀ (dust visible to the naked eye) and PM₂.₅ (breathable, smaller particles). They are capable of reaching deep into the lungs, dodging the body’s defense barriers.

1. Inflammation: PM inflames airways, causing breathing passages to narrow and asthma attacks, coughing, or wheezing.
2. Indoor Infiltration: Local construction dust may enter indoors through windows, doors, and ventilation and add to indoor pollution levels.

Why are children more vulnerable?

Children are most vulnerable because:

1. Developing Lungs: Their lungs mature until adolescence; injury from exposure can result in long-term impaired function.
2. Increased breathing rate: Children breathe 50% more air per pound of body weight than adults, so they get more particles.
3. Outdoor exposure: Outdoor exposure puts them in contact with more concentrated dust surrounding building construction.
4. Mouth breathing: Since children mouth-breathe, unlike adults, they circumvent the nose’s natural filter.

The Evidence: Short- and Long-Term Impact

Immediate Effects

1. Increased emergency room visits for asthma attacks during peak months of dust.
2. Irregular coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath after low exposure.

Long-Term Impact

Decline in Lung Function: Research indicates that exposure to PM₁₀ during childhood may decrease lung capacity by as much as 5% at age 8.
Risk of Hospitalisation: Children who have lived in high-dust environments are 1.3 times more likely to be hospitalised due to asthma.
Health Inequalities: The less affluent families reside next to construction sites and cannot resist, increasing inequalities.

Protecting Children: Low-Tech Solutions for Families

1. Utilise HEPA Air Purifiers to eliminate 99% of indoor dust.
2. Track Air Quality using apps such as AirVisual or inexpensive sensors; keep windows shut on high-PM days.
3. Schedule Outdoor Activities to steer clear of construction rush hours (e.g., noon when they stir up dust).

For Communities

1. Call for Regulations: Mandate dust-control methods (e.g., water sprays, barriers) on construction sites near housing or schools.
2. Enhance Ventilation: Schools and buildings must employ HVAC systems with MERV-13 filters to prevent PM.

A Call to Action

1. The risks are high: even small decreases in lung function can increase lifetime risks of respiratory disease. Ensuring children’s safety requires:
2. Policy Reforms: Strengthening dust controls on construction.
3. Education: Teaching families how to identify and minimize risks.
4. Equity: Focusing protection on disadvantaged groups disproportionately harmed.

By reducing construction dust today, we can spare children’s lungs—and their futures.

 Construction dust has particulate matter (PM)—tiny particles like PM₁₀ (dust visible to the naked eye) and PM₂.₅ (breathable, smaller particles). They are capable of reaching deep into the lungs, dodging the body’s defense barriers.  Health Conditions Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare