Prams and Pollution

The personal vehicles that we use are a major cause of pollution adding to the global warming index. The vehicular smoke spews nitrogen in the atmosphere and it lingers in the air and can cause acid rain and water pollution. Carbon dioxide is not just a deadly gas but it traps heat making the earth's temperature to rise causing global warming. These negative effects are becoming alarming by the day as the pollution levels are constantly increasing the buildup in the air.

One very disturbing fact has come up and that is the pollution affecting small kids. Parents who take their babies out in the prams are unaware that infants and toddlers in the pram breathe more polluted air. The heights of the prams are usually positioned between 0.55m and 0.85 m above the ground level. The vehicle exhaust pipes are usually about 1m above road level which means that the infants are more exposed to the vehicular pollution. As a matter of fact babies in the prams are exposed about 60 percent more than the adult who is pushing the pram around.

Researchers suggested technological solution to help built or create a clean air zone around the child's breathing area. However, covering the pram does not seem to be the right approach as there is always the possibility of trapping the pollutants making things worse. The health risk of air pollution also depends on the amount of time one remains exposed. Though this research was inconclusive but it surely rings a warning bell.

By: Madhuchanda Saxena

Content: https://www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/concerns-raised-about-air-pollution-for-babies-in-prams/