On high ozone days, hospital admissions and emergency room visits for respiratory problems can as much as double. Many of those patients are children, especially children with asthma. Physically, children are more vulnerable to air pollution than adults because their respiratory defenses are not fully formed. Their airways are smaller, and more likely to become blocked when irritated. They breathe more rapidly, taking in more pollution per pound of body weight.
Children also spend a lot of time outdoors.
They play hard, and breathe hard. Finally, children generally do not acknowledge the effects of ozone exposure, even when they are experiencing significantly reduced breathing ability. So they are less likely than adults to protect themselves from further harm by reducing activity level or going inside. Keep an eye on your child s health. Look for warning signs of undiagnosed asthma, such as coughing regularly, and shortness of breath when exercising, and share your observations with your pediatrician.