Paper Exapmle on Environmental Factors That Affect Health of Infants

Environmental factors that can affect the health of infants include second- hand smoke, excessive sunlight (ultra-violet radiation), polluted air, poor sanitation, water that is contaminated with pathogens, water contaminated with lead, food contaminated with mercury, pesticides, organic pollutants and disease vectors in the environment. Children who are below ages of five years drink more water and inhale more air when compared with adults and therefore, they are more vulnerable to environmental pollutants (Ayres et al., 2006).

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Air pollution is the environmental factor I am going to discuss. Air pollution poses a threat to the health of infants. Outdoor air pollutants that can potentially affect the health or safety of infants include sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, exhausts from motor vehicles and carbon monoxide. Infants are likely to develop acute respiratory infections courtesy of air pollution. Air pollution is likely to exacerbate acute respiratory infections in infants. The acute respiratory infections that are likely to be aggravated by air pollution include colds, sore throats, and pneumonia. Studies have revealed that acute respiratory infections caused by air pollution are one of the major causes of infant mortality in the developing world (Fajzieva & Brebbia, 2001). Air pollution is likely to exacerbate acute respiratory infections in infants. The acute respiratory infections that are likely to be exacerbated by air pollution include colds, sore throats, and pneumonia (Gurjar et al., 2010).

Air pollution is likely to cause to asthma, heart ailments, low birth weights, and other respiratory infections among infants. Asthma is characterized by breathlessness and wheezing. The disease has also been established to be a major cause of infant mortality. Indoor allergens, tobacco smoke, second-hand smoke and air pollutants are risk factors associated with the development of asthma in infants (Rubin & Merrick, 2014).

Recommendations

Use of renewable sources of energy can mitigate air pollution. Non-renewable sources of energy are the major air pollutants. Encouraging the use of non-renewable sources of energy such as solar energy and wind power will play a major role in ensuring that infants breathe air that is free from pollutants.

Encouraging use of public transport will reduce automobile fuel combustion, consequentially leading to a reduction in air pollution. By reducing the number of automobiles on the road, the magnitude of fossil fuel combustion will significantly be reduced. Reducing the magnitude of fossil fuel combustion will directly reduce air pollution.

Reducing use of aerosols in households will reduce levels of air pollution. Households should be at the frontline of ensuring that the air infants inhale is not contaminated.

Relevant authorities should ensure that only unleaded fuel is used by consumers. Leaded fuel is a major contributor to air pollution. By introducing stringent rules that prohibit the use of leaded fuel, air pollution levels will be significantly reduced.

Afforestation will play a major role in cleaning up the environment and reducing air pollution. Plants use carbon dioxide gas in photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide is the gas released during combustion of fossil fuels. There has been an increased accumulation of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere due to an increase in combustion of fossil fuels. Planting of more trees will play a major role in removing carbon dioxide gas (an air pollutant) from the environment.

Adults should cease from smoking at home or in places whereby infants are nearby. Given that tobacco smoke and second-hand smoke are major indoor pollutants in home settings, ceasing from smoking will play a major role in ensuring that the air infants breath is not contaminated.

References

Ayres, J. G., Maynard, R., & Richards, R. (2006). Air pollution and health. London: Imperial College Press.

Fajzieva, D., & Brebbia, C. A. (2001).International Conference on the Impact of Environmental Factors on Health, Environmental health risk: First International Conference on the Impact of Environmental Factors on Health. Southampton: WIT Press.

Gurjar, B. R., Molina, L. T., & Ojha, C. S. P. (2010). Air pollution: Health and environmental impacts. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.

Rubin, L., & Merrick, J. (2014). Environmental health: Home, school and community. New York: Nova Science Publishers.