You exhaust me! Air pollution exposure near schools during pick-up and drop-off times

Tona M Pitt; Brian H Rowe; Anne Hicks

doi:10.1093/pch/pxac113

You exhaust me! Air pollution exposure near schools during pick-up and drop-off times

Paediatr Child Health. 2023 Feb 15;28(5):275-277. doi: 10.1093/pch/pxac113. eCollection 2023 Aug.

Authors

Tona M Pitt¹, Brian H Rowe^{2

3}, Anne Hicks⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
² Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
³ School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
⁴ Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Abstract

Background: Public and healthcare practitioner awareness of climate change and the longitudinal health impacts of air pollution is growing; however, it is not always clear how to implement practical and feasible steps that individuals and communities can take to help decrease air pollution and protect children, and it can be challenging to request and enforce behaviour changes that the public associates with perceived personal inconvenience. In this context, it is important to consider common, chronic exposures that increase children's risks, especially when straightforward solutions with minimal negative impact where significant evidence-based positive results are available.

Aims: This article provides simple tips that healthcare providers, parents, and communities can use to advocate for decreased idling in school zones to improve air quality in and around schools.

Keywords: Air pollution; Child health; Drop-off; Emissions; School; Traffic-related air pollution.