Indoor Air Pollution & Children’s Health: Tips for Healthier Breathing at Home

​​By: Lauren Zajac, MD, MPH, FAAP

Outdoor air pollution from factories, vehicles and wildfires is harmful for kids. But the air inside homes, schools and other indoor spaces matters, too, especially because kids spend so much of their time indoors.

Indoor air can carry particles and gases that irritate growing lungs and airways, making breathing problems and infections more likely. Some indoor air pollutants can even cause lasting harm to children's lungs, brains and other organs.

What makes indoor air pollution so dangerous?

Kids spend up to 90% of their time inside, so the air they breathe indoors can have a big impact on their health. In fact, the levels of some air pollutants can be 2 to 5 times higher indoors than they are outdoors. This means everyday indoor air can expose children to higher concentrations of harmful substances than many parents realize.

Children's lungs are also more sensitive to smoke, chemicals, dust and other pollutants commonly found indoors. One reason is that kids breathe nearly twice as fast as adults, drawing in more of these substances relative to their body size.

Poor indoor air quality makes children more vulnerable to colds, coughs, ear infections, bronchitis and pneumonia. Indoor pollution can trigger severe flare-ups in kids with allergies or asthma.

Since kids' bodies are still growing, pollutants in the air they breathe can interfere with healthy development. For example, studies show that kids exposed to poor indoor air may develop smaller-than-normal lungs, affecting lung and heart health throughout their lives. Air pollution has also been shown to affect growing brains, leading to learning and memory problems.

What are the worst indoor air pollutants?
Of all the unhealthy substances found in indoor air, tobacco and vape smoke are among the most harmful to your child's health. Secondhand smoke from cigarettes, cigars and pipes make kids more vulnerable to every kind of respiratory problem. Thirdhand smoke—the residue that stays behind on furniture, skin and pet fur—interferes with your child's breathing too.

Vape makers claim their products are safer than traditional tobacco, but research shows they can be just as dangerous. Vapes release harmful chemicals that can damage your child's lungs, brain and more.

Wood-burning and gas-burning systems can pollute the air, too.

Natural gas, propane and wood heating systems all contribute to indoor air pollution. Burning these fuels releases carbon monoxide, which causes some 400 accidental deaths in the U.S. each year. Wood smoke is especially dangerous for children, since it contains high levels of particulate matter that irritate airways. Electric heating and cooking systems are a cleaner alternative to gas and wood.

Sources of pollution you might not know about

Here are some other common air pollutants found in homes, schools, day care centers, sports arenas and other public buildings.

• Mold​ and mildew, two kinds of fungus that thrive in high-humidity areas

• Pet dander (fine particles of skin from furry or feathered friends)

• Pests such as mice, rats and cockroaches

• Radon, a gas that forms in soil, rocks and groundwater and enters through cracks in walls or building foundations

• Chemicals in home furnishings that make them waterproof, stainproof or fire-resistant

• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in household cleaners, paints, glues, art supplies and many plastics

• Air fresheners and perfumes that irritate airways and even disturb healthy hormone levels
  

3 key ways to protect your child from indoor air pollution

1. Tackle pollution at the source.

• Don't smoke or vape anywhere near your child. This includes your home, garage, yard and cars. (Smoking on outdoor porches, patios and lawns isn't safe, since smoke comes back inside through doors, windows and vents.) Third-hand smoke on your clothes can harm your child, too. The best solution is to quit—here's how.
  
  
• Clean away dust and dander. Frequent cleaning with a high-efficiency particle air (HEPA) filter vacuum can keep indoor air cleaner. Afterward, mop or wet-dust hard surfaces such as floors and tables with plain water or fragrance-free cleanser. This further reduces dust, which can carry mold​ spores, dust mite​ droppings, pet dander and other airborne particles. Pro tip: vacuum and mop while children are out of the house, so they don't breathe in particles stirred up during cleaning.
  
  
• Keep your home cool and dry. Extreme heat makes all forms of indoor air pollution more harmful, so do everything you can to control indoor temperatures during hot spells. Bathrooms, basements and other wet areas need plenty of ventilation to prevent mold and mildew. In humid climates, a dehumidifier might be the best whole-house solution.
  
  
• Have furnaces, stoves and wood-burning fireplaces checked. Heating or fireplace experts can make sure that vents, ducts and other systems are working properly.
  
  
• Install carbon monoxide and smoke alarms. These devices can protect your family from deadly leaks. Place carbon monoxide and smoke detectors on all levels of your home and replace batteries often.
  
  
• Test your home for radon. Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that can enter buildings through cracks in the foundation. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer (behind smoking). Test your home, especially if you live below the third floor. To learn more about how to test, contact the National Radon Hotline at 1-800-SOS-RADON (1-800-767-7236) or visit sosradon.org.
  
  
• Avoid burning candles and other scented products indoors. Most scented candles and incense release chemicals while burning that can harm little lungs. Air fresheners and strongly scented products also release VOCs and other harmful pollutants. Skip the fake stuff in favor of natural choices, like cut lemons or fresh flowers—or simply enjoy the freshness of a scent-free home.
  
  
• Use safer cleaning products. Try cleansing windows, mirrors and floors with a water-vinegar solution. Baking soda scrubs and bleaches away stains on tile, sinks and other hard surfaces. For tougher jobs, look for cleaners labeled "Safer Choice," "Green Seal" or "Design for the Environment" (for disinfectants).
  
  
• Use unscented laundry products. Kids breathe in the chemical scents left on clothing, sheets and towels, making fragrance-free options safer.
  
  
• Use safer pest control methods. Problems with bugs, mice and other pests? Look for a local service that doesn't use toxic chemicals—or choose safer options and use integrated pest management (IPM) when possible. IPM uses strategies to prevent pests such as getting rid of their food and water sources, sealing up points where pests get in and eliminating clutter where they hide. If pesticides are needed, choose safer options, like bait stations in areas out of reach for children.
  
  
• Choose natural fabrics and furnishings when possible. Solid wood furniture is free of toxic formaldehyde, found in chipboard furniture and other home furnishings. Chemicals like formaldehyde can leak into the air for years, polluting the air your family breathes. Rugs, drapes, sheets and towels made of natural fibers like cotton, wool or linen are safer choices.

2. Filter and ventilate to clear the air more.

Once you've gone after pollutants at the source, cleaning the air is your next step.

• Let the fresh air in. Ventilating your home can help clear away traces of smoke, toxins and fine particles. However, if outdoor pollution levels are high where you live, this could make indoor air quality worse. Use the "Air Quality Index" (also available on many smartphone weather apps) to get information about local air quality and precautions recommended. On days with very high air pollution (such as wildfire smoke), you may need to take steps to protect your indoor air.
  
  
• Use a HEPA air purifier. These high-efficiency systems absorb tiny particles in indoor air, helping kids breathe easier. Placing a room-sized air cleaner purifier in your child's bedroom or playroom is a smart strategy. Many homes can be fitted with air filtration systems that reduce pollution in every room. There are also some lower-cost DIY air cleaners that families can make with a box fan and filter (find more information here).

3. Think about other indoor spaces where your child spends time.

• Sharing the clean-air tips in this article may be helpful to day care providers or friends and relatives your child visits often.
  
  
• If you're curious about indoor air at school, find out what steps and systems are in place to reduce pollutants. Encourage your child's school to improve indoor air quality using the recommendations in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools program.
  
  
• Kids with asthma should have a current asthma action plan on file with school, sports programs and other groups who may need to handle breathing emergencies.

Remember, your pediatrician is here to help

Your child's doctor can advise you about local air quality and ways to protect kids from all forms of harmful pollution.

More information

• Pollution & Children's Health: Why Children Need a Clean Environment
  

• Green Cleaning: Choosing Products That Are Safer for Your Family
  

• Clean Air Indoors (American Lung Association)