Connie Chang at Shondaland has written an article titled, “With Climate Change Affecting Air Pollution, What Can Parents Do to Protect Their Families?” For the article, she interviewed experts from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the University of Washington, and Mother & Other For Clean Air’s medical education adviser, Dr. Anne Mellinger-Birdsong.
The article talks about the air pollution in California right now, which is coming from the wildfires. Climate experts have been warning that climate change will cause more heatwaves and make wildfires more intense, which is exactly what is happening in California this year: a heat wave that intensifies wildfires.
The article then discusses the health dangers of air pollution, including the fact that communities of color and lower wealth communities are often the hardest hit by air pollution.
The article asks what can parents do to protect the families, and then gives answers.
- Be air aware: know your area’s air quality index, and if the air quality is predicted to be unhealthy, adjust your daily activities.
- If the air pollution is from particles (PM2.5) or smoke, stay indoors as much as possible.
- If you need to go out in your car, you can roll up your car windows and turn the air conditioner on, that keeps the air pollution levels inside lower.
- Inside the home, use an air purifier and clean the house to lower dust (particulate levels).
The article talks about different kinds of air purifiers, and describes how if you’re in a pinch you can make one. Read the whole article from Shondaland here, it has many more details.
Sept. 29, 2020
