Children spend significantly more time outdoors, especially in the summer when the ozone air pollution levels are typically highest. Children have a higher ventilation rate than adults relative to their body weight and lung surface. This results in a greater dose of pollution delivered to their lungs. A California study found that children spend three times as much time engaged in sports and vigorous activities as adults do. This results in breathing more air, and, therefore, more pollution, being taken deep into their lungs.
Air pollution is known to exacerbate asthma and be a trigger for asthma attacks in children.
A Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine study reported that on high-pollution summer days, children with asthma were 40 percent more likely to suffer asthma attacks compared with days with average pollution levels. Several research studies have been published demonstrating the unique nature of exposure by infants and children to environmental pollution since many of the current standards were developed. California's network of monitoring is limited and does not specifically measure exposure to ambient air pollution and toxic air contaminants near schools and day care facilities, where infants and children are likely to be exposed.