Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Traffic pollution poses higher risk to children
New research seen by the BBC has found that children living in pollution hotspots have poorer lung capacity than the national average.
See the report here
Another reason to be concerned about the high levels of traffic in this area which has many young children living here
Tags for Forum Posts: Wightman Road, pollution, traffic
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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Well Mr Goldacre might have something to say about this...
Children living in high traffic areas tend to come from low socio-economic groups and any number of factors (including all of them) could be the cause of this decreased lung capacity.
Why do these nasty particulates have to be shortening our lives or maiming us before something is done about them?
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Permalink Reply by Liz on
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Maybe so, we shall have to see how the report is presented in its final form. I don't know what the controls are on this and whether they have tested children from similar backgrounds in non- built up areas.
However, the fact remains that these things are in the lungs of children (as you see in the video) and that can't be a comforting thought for any of us - especially as it seems the nearer you are to the ground, the more vulnerable you are (think of all those kids in strollers along Green Lanes).
A borough that claims it wants to be the greenest and does not tackle the traffic issue is kidding itself. Air quality is a crucial issue for health and very little mention is made of it, amongst all the pictures of people putting their recycling into the right boxes or sticking some bulbs in the ground which seems to be what the greenest borough strategy amounts to at the moment (and I say this is a card carrying Community Volunteer who attends meetings on Sat mornings at recycling centres)
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Permalink Reply by Danzigger on
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I worry that reports like this encourage people to drive more rather than walk or bike, especially on the school run.
I mean, it can't be healthy for the kids being outside and breathing in all them particulars, can it?
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As Liz mentions above, the particulates are more prevalent closer to the ground, so a cyclist, who is typically higher up than a car passenger, will inhale less of them. I suppose that's the logic for the theory. Not entirely convincing, mind you...
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I'd say that the vast majority of kids who go to the local primaries do not come to school by car and have no choice but to walk as parents do not have cars or they live so close that it is quicker to walk than to negotiate Green Lanes/Wightman Road at 9am and I don't think that will change.
Those who drive their kids to school will always have a 'reason' (sometimes legit) and I would not like research like this not to be reported. Car drivers need to know the consequences of their choice to use the car (although I suspect a hard core would drive even if every fact was placed before them because it is their 'right' )
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Permalink Reply by 1fysm5zytys0u on
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What world do you want your children or family living in? Air pollution is a big concern, and is produced in a numerous of ways like cars, factories, and fertilizers. Simple ways of reducing these harmful contaminants are ways of transportation like walking, riding a bike, and riding a bus. You can also recycle glass, plastics, and metals. Almost 58 percent of Americans inhale dangerously polluted air and the transportation system is the main cause. Smog is extremely harmful to inhale. Once again, cars cause most of the ozone pollution. When fossil fuels like gasoline, oil and coal are burned it reacts with heat or sunlight to form the ozone.
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