Family dinners improve teens’ eating habits no matter how well family functions | Canada

A new Canadian study has revealed teenagers and young adults who sit down for family dinners – regardless of how well the family unit manages daily routines, communicates and connects emotionally – are more likely to have healthier eating habits than if they graze or fend for themselves at suppertime.

“Gathering around the dinner table is sort of a magical thing,” said lead researcher Kathryn Walton, dietitian and PhD student who worked on the study with family relations and applied nutrition professor Jess Haines.

“It’s a time when families can slow down from their busy days to talk, spend time together and problem-solve. It’s also a time that parents can model healthful eating behaviours.”

The researchers found that when families sit down together, adolescents and young adults eat more fruits and veggies and consume fewer fast-food and takeout items.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, looked at more than 2,700 participants 14 to 24 years of age who were living with their parents in 2011. They were asked how often they sat down for dinner with their families, how well their family functions, and about their consumption of fruit and vegetables, sugar-sweetened beverages, fast food and takeout food.

The study found that family dinners are associated with better dietary intake for adolescents from both high and low functioning families.

“To reap the many benefits of family dinners, the meal doesn’t have to be a big drawn-out affair,” said Haines. “Even if it’s something you pull out of the freezer, add a bagged salad on the side and you’ll have a decent nutritional meal.”

Walton said many teens and young adults living at home are busy with evening extracurricular activities or part-time jobs, making it hard to find time for dinner with family members. But finding that time once a day – even if it’s breakfast together – can be just as effective.

She also said when family members participate in helping to prepare food, they are more likely to eat it. Getting the whole family involved helps cut down on prep time and teaches adolescents important food skills. Every meal together counts: start with one and sit down together more frequently as the family schedule allows.

Walton, who is currently working as a post-doctoral researcher at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto, said she hopes to study ways to make it easier for busy families to have meals together. She said prepping weekly meals on the weekend can help families avoid heading for the drive-through window when bellies start to grumble.

“Our research found that family dinners are a great way to improve the dietary intake of the whole family, regardless of how well the family functions together,” said Walton. “Preparing and enjoying a meal together can also help families bond. It’s a win-win.”

(Source: University of Guelph, Journal of the American Medical Association)

Changes to child car restraint instructions could reduce injury risk

Three children in car safety seat - family, transport, safety, road trip and people concept

Improving the design of child restraint instruction manuals could increase correct use of the restraints by up to 27 per cent, saving lives and preventing injuries, says research presented at the Safety 2018 World Conference in Bangkok, Thailand.

The research was presented by Associate Professor Julie Brown, from Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) and a senior lecturer in the School of Medical Science at UNSW Sydney.

Associate Professor Brown revealed that nearly half of Australian parents using restraints are using them incorrectly, increasing the risk of serious injury to children by up to three times.

“Research undertaken at NeuRA identified a critical relationship between comprehension of instructional materials and errors in use,” Associate Professor Brown said.

In a survey of 400 Australian parents, 90 per cent reported that they had read the instructions supplied with the restraints, yet high rates of incorrect use continue.

“This suggested instructional materials in their current form may not be effective in communicating how to use restraints correctly, and that we may need to take a new approach to how instructional materials are regulated in product standards,” said Associate Professor Brown.

As part of the study, researchers at NeuRA looked at the range of instructional materials provided by manufacturers of restraints, citing these as a leading cause of errors in use.

Following their review, Associate Professor Brown and her team developed a new set of prototype instructional materials. The instructions differ from other instructions because they are designed with a user-driven approach and were tested and refined until at least 80 per cent of study participants achieved correct comprehension and proper use.

“Instead of a group of experts sitting around a table developing user guidelines, we asked parents to work with us to develop and drive new instructions, and to then road test them as part of our ongoing research to review and deliver correct comprehension and proper use of installation guidelines,” Associate Professor Brown said.

“We are trying to ensure information supplied with child restraints is comprehensible, to ultimately ensure they are installed correctly and do what they are designed to do.”

The new instructional materials developed in the study consisted of an A3-size instruction sheet, a set of four swing tags fixed to the restraint and an online video that demonstrates the overall instruction and usage process with extra video content that demonstrates specific key tasks. The videos are accessible via QR codes fixed to the A3 instruction sheet and the swing tags.

Using the new consumer-driven instructional materials, 27 per cent more people attained correct use, and comprehension was 42 per cent higher.

NeuRA CEO Professor Peter Schofield said directly involving consumers in the development of informative materials was the gold standard.

“Bringing users into the design process ensures comprehension and overall correct usability, and will assist in our goal to save children’s lives and prevent serious injury,” Professor Schofield said. Fifty per cent of transport injuries are sustained by child passengers in cars in developed countries. This study will reduce that number by ensuring restraints are installed and used correctly every time a child travels on road, he said.

“Our findings tell us that increasing comprehension of child restraint instructions is an effective measure to counter misuse, and that users should be involved in every step of the design and testing,” said Associate Professor Brown.

“This could be a cost-effective and far-reaching intervention that will keep kids safer on the road here in Australia and in many other countries around the world.”

Injury is the leading cause of death and hospitalisation in Australia of children aged older than one year. Associate Professor Brown and her team at NeuRA are now taking this study from the lab to the real world to work on improving these outcomes and making child restraints in cars more effective.

(Source: UNSW Sydney)

Omega-3 found to reduce premature births

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Increased intake of omega-3 long-chain fatty acids during pregnancy has been found to reduce the risk of premature birth.

The Cochrane review into Omega-3 fatty acid addition during pregnancy was conducted by SAHMRI’s Healthy Mothers, Babies and Children theme in collaboration with the Women’s and Children’s Hospital and the University of Adelaide.

University of Adelaide Professor Maria Makrides, theme leader and deputy director of SAHMRI, says evidence from the Cochrane review shows daily omega-3 supplementation reduces the risk of birth before 37 weeks by 11 per cent, and reduces the risk of birth before 34 weeks by 42 per cent.

“This is an extremely promising finding because we now have strong evidence that omega-3 supplements are a simple and cost-effective intervention to prevent premature birth, which we know has serious health implications,” Professor Makrides said.

“Premature birth complications are the leading cause of death for children under five years of age.

“Premature babies are at greater risk of chronic issues with their respiratory, immune and digestive systems and they’re more susceptible to problems with speech, social skills, learning and behaviour.”

Professor Makrides’ team suggests women expecting a single baby begin taking a daily dose of omega-3s at the 12-week stage of their pregnancy. The supplement needs to contain between 500 and 1000 milligrams of omega-3 with at least 500 milligrams of the omega-3 called DHA.

“A large number of women already take omega-3 supplements during pregnancy since they’re found in a number of over-the-counter pregnancy supplements,” Professor Makrides said.

“By increasing their omega-3 intake, women can give themselves the best chance of carrying their baby to full term of 40 weeks.

“Even a few extra days in the womb can make a substantial difference when it comes to your baby’s health.”

South Australian Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Stephen Wade, congratulated the researchers on their work, saying a reduction in premature births would have widespread benefits for the community.

“Supporting premature babies in intensive care and treating ongoing challenges related to premature birth places significant pressure on families, the community and the health system,” Minister Wade said.

“The evidence from this review is both exciting and compelling, and something that needs to be investigated further.”

The Cochrane Review assessed the combined results of 70 trials involving almost 20,000 women around the world.

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Addition During Pregnancy is published in The Cochrane Library.

(Source: The University of Adelaide, The Cochrane Library)

Keep slapping on that sunscreen and ignore toxic claims

Mother applying sunblock cream on child shoulder — Little boy with suncream on shoulder at beach

It’s safe to slap on the sunscreen this summer – in repeated doses – despite what you have read about the potential toxicity of sunscreens.

A new study led by the University of Queensland (UQ) and University of South Australia (UniSA) provides the first direct evidence that zinc oxide nanoparticles used in sunscreen neither penetrate the skin nor cause cellular toxicity after repeated applications.

The research, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, refutes widespread claims among some public advocacy groups – and a growing belief among consumers – about the safety of nanoparticulate-based sunscreens.

UQ and UniSA lead investigator, Professor Michael Roberts, says the myth about sunscreen toxicity took hold after previous animal studies found much higher skin absorption of zinc-containing sunscreens than in human studies.

“There were concerns that these zinc oxide nanoparticles could be absorbed into the epidermis, with toxic consequences, including DNA damage,” Professor Roberts says.

The toxicity link was picked up by consumers, sparking fears that Australians could reduce their sunscreen use, echoed by a Cancer Council 2017 National Sun Protection Survey showing a drop in the number of people who believed it was safe to use sunscreens every day.

Professor Roberts and his co-researchers in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Germany studied the safety of repeated applications of zinc oxide nanoparticles applied to five volunteers aged 20-30 years.

Volunteers applied the ZnO nanoparticles every hour for six hours on five consecutive days.

“Using superior imaging methods, we established that the nanoparticles remained within the superficial layers of the skin and did not cause any cellular damage,” Professor Roberts says.

“We hope that these findings help improve consumer confidence in these products and in turn lead to better sun protection. The terrible consequences of skin cancer and skin damage caused by prolonged sun exposure are much greater than any toxicity posed by approved sunscreens.”

(Source: University of South Australia, Journal of Investigative Dermatology)

Is ‘baby brain’ really unique to pregnant women?

Remembering names — Shot of an unidentifiable pregnant woman with adhesive notes stuck to her belly

So-called ‘baby brain’ might affect more than just pregnant women, according to a group of Deakin University researchers who hit the headlines with research confirming the phenomenon’s existence earlier this year.

Lead researcher Sasha Davies, a PhD candidate in Deakin’s School of Psychology, is now investigating the underlying drivers of baby brain, in part hoping to determine if the minor memory or attention loss experienced by some expectant mothers could be equated with others going through major life transitions unrelated to pregnancy.

“What our original meta-analysis showed was that women do experience some cognitive changes during pregnancy, with impacts to memory and attention,” she said.

“But we also know that having a baby is a major life event, and mums-to-be can be affected by all sorts of factors like sleep deprivation and stress. What we’re now aiming to quantify is how much these cognitive changes are also found in people who aren’t pregnant but may be going through other big life changes, such as a relationship breakdown, changes to employment, or moving to a new city.”

To gather this data Ms Davies and her supervisor Dr Melissa Hayden, a Senior Lecturer in Deakin’s School of Psychology, have developed an anonymous online survey, open to Australians aged between 18 and 45. The 30-minute questionnaire asks about life events, and then gets participants to complete some simple cognitive tasks.

Alongside this online survey, the team are also recruiting women to take part in a more in-depth cross-sectional study to further unpack the underlying brain-based reasons why some of the cognitive changes found in pregnant women may be occurring.

“In our original study, we found that the cognitive changes were most noticeable in the third trimester,” Ms Davies said.

“So, we’ll be comparing pregnant women in their third trimester, with women who have never been pregnant, using some behavioural testing and also an electroencephalogram, which records electrical patterns in the brain.”

Dr Hayden said it was important to emphasise that the reality of baby brain was confined to minor memory or attention lapses that would typically only be noticed by the pregnant woman herself, or her partner.

“Of course, we hear plenty of anecdotal evidence where women say they start forgetting things during pregnancy – they put the car keys in the fridge or miss appointments,” she said.

“But you could argue many of us experience similar memory or concentration lapses when we’re distracted or stressed, without being pregnant. So there’s no need to ring any alarm bells here. What we want to do is simply better understand how women’s bodies and brains change during pregnancy, so we can support the health of expectant mothers in the best possible way.”

Dr Hayden said a recently published study in the Netherlands indicated there may even be some advantages to baby brain, with potential improvements to social brain functioning.

“So, we certainly don’t think it’s just a deficit, but that it’s probably part of a far bigger picture,” she said.

To find out more about taking part in Deakin’s baby brain research, visit here.

(Source: Deakin University)

Aussie kids a hop, skip and jump away from better health and fitness

Australian researchers have identified that our children are not involved in enough muscle-building activity and are still failing to meet the recommended amount of daily physical activity to ensure good health now and later in life.

Delivering their research at the Movement to Move Event in Adelaide, they say muscle strength is key to enjoying and becoming competent in a wide range of sports and play activities and vital for strong bone development and overall good health.

According to lead researcher and Co-Chair of Active Health Kids Australia (AHKA), UniSA’s Dr Natasha Schranz, developing children’s muscular fitness is not about going to the gym or lifting weights.

“What children are missing out on is all the fun and muscle-building benefits of simple things like doing cartwheels, jumping, hopping, climbing and body weight movements including squats, pushing and pulling,” Dr Schranz says.

“As children’s lives increasingly revolve around indoor spaces and the routine of school and home, natural physical adventure play has gone by the wayside.

“Highly accessible games from the past, like hopscotch, skipping rope, elastics and rough and tumble play have pretty much disappeared.

“Traditional sports such as basketball, gymnastics, volleyball, tennis, and many athletic events both rely on, and develop muscular fitness but we are seeing a decline in performance compared to previous generations.”

According to the Active Healthy Kids Australia 2018 report card, a comprehensive biennial assessment of the factors influencing the physical activity and fitness of Australian children from birth to 17 years of age, today’s kids can’t jump as far as children did 30 years ago and are failing to improve their overall fitness.

AHKA partners and Movement to Move Event supporters, Sport Australia and the National Heart Foundation of Australia believe national, coordinated responses to the report will help to support change in the community with the goal of improved fitness for Australian kids and better health outcomes for the nation.

Sport Australia has made a bold commitment to reduce inactivity by 15 per cent by 2030.

“We would love young people to be more involved in sport, but parents should not discount the importance of play. Playing for, and with children puts them on track for developing stronger physical literacy and a lifelong love of sport and physical activity.” CEO of Sport Australia, Kate Palmer says.

“With 1 in 4 children being overweight or obese it is vital we get our kids moving again. Let’s target 60 minutes of heartrate-raising physical activity a day.”

For the third consecutive assessment period, overall physical activity levels for Australian children have flatlined at a D-.

Dr Schranz says the focus this year on muscular fitness is in addition to the need for more ‘huff and puff’ aerobic activity and greater encouragement for children to simply move more and more often.

“While we have seen some improvement in how schools are encouraging more physical activity, we have also seen the results decline slightly for active transport use (walking, scooting cycling), and their overall physical fitness,” Dr Schranz says.

“It is clear from these results that improving the fitness and consequent good physical health of Australian children and young people is a challenge that we have to take on for the long term as parents and grandparents, carers, teachers, coaches, and leaders at all levels of the community.

“That means in everything we do – from providing more opportunities for kids to be physically active at home or at school, to considering what kind of environments we create and how we invest in community health – we need to consider what improvements we can make that will encourage more activity.”

Results of the AHKA 2018 Report Card were released as part of the international Movement to Move Event in Adelaide, to align with the release of the 2018 Global Matrix 3.0 which offers a global comparison of the factors supporting physical activity across 49 countries.

Director of Active Living Trevor Shilton from the Heart Foundation says there are now clear guidelines on how much and what kind of activity children should be doing every day and it is up to all of us to promote that knowledge and encourage that activity.

“Today’s hurried lifestyles, our anxieties about the appropriate supervision of our children and the advent of new technologies that have replaced much of what used to occupy children physically, with passive screen-based activity, have eroded opportunities for children to be as active as they should be,” Prof Shilton says.

“Meanwhile, the Heart Foundation’s long-running Jump Rope for Heart program, which attracts more than 300,000 students across Australia each year, is helping to develop important fundamental movement skills, strength and fitness in kids.”

More information about the 2018 AHKA Report Card is available here and you can see how Australia is shaping up internationally here as a part of the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance Global Matrix 3.0.

Background information

Active Healthy Kids Australia (AHKA) is a collaboration among Australian children’s physical activity and health researchers (13 researchers from nine universities), which is led by a team from the University of South Australia (the Lead Research University for the Report Card and the Administering Organisation of AHKA). Active Healthy Kids Australia comprises the AHKA Research Working Group (RWG) and Executive Committee.

The primary goal of AHKA is to advocate for ways in which physical activity can be increased among Australian children and young people, using the Physical Activity Report Card for Children and Young People as the core monitoring metric.

AHKA top 3 priorities for kids’ physical activity

All Australian families need to be able to access practical advice, examples and opportunities that will support children to meet the 24-hour movement guidelines every day. All physical activity messaging should include real ways that children and young people can incorporate more activity into their daily routines with the inclusion of parents/carers and siblings. These suggestions need to include a variety of activities that would appeal to a broad audience with varying interest and abilities and include both aerobic and strength-based examples. Families also need to be supported and educated about how they can limit sedentary screen time and how to encourage good sleep habits with a focus on early to bed and early to rise.
National funding for comprehensive school physical activity programs that would support and allow for the following:
- A national school physical activity policy that specifies that students need to be given the opportunity to engage in a minimum of 150 minutes per week of organised physical activity, with physical education as a core component. This should include implementation strategies and accountability for schools.
- Every primary and secondary school to have a tertiary qualified health and physical education teacher that delivers physical education classes to all students and supports classroom teachers to engage students in physical activity throughout the school day.
- Students to be provided with ample time and appealing spaces during recess and lunch to engage in free and active play.
National funding for routine and regular surveillance of physical activity and fitness (aerobic and muscular) of all Australians, including consensus on measurement methods among states and their government departments.

(Source: University of South Australia)

The dangerous impact increasing temperatures are having on our children

Preschool kid raise arm up to answer teacher question on whiteboard in classroom,Kindergarten education concept.

New research by Western Sydney University explores the concerning impact our changing climate and increasing heat is having on Australian schools and childcare centres, as experts predict temperatures will reach extreme heights this summer.

The research found dangerously high surface temperatures in outdoor play spaces, raising important questions about children’s safety and learning outcomes.

Following experiments within a number of childcare centres, the data reveals that the worst temperatures were measured on the surface materials initially considered the safest for outdoor play, including AstroTurf and softfall.

Senior researcher and initiator of the Cool Schools report, Dr Sebastian Pfautsch, commented: “We saw temperatures rise up to 98 degrees Celsius on AstroTurf, raising concerning questions about the impact this is having on children’s wellbeing, as we know children are far more vulnerable to heat stress than adults.

“We also found that playground infrastructure heats up drastically as temperatures rise and some surfaces and playground equipment, such as metal slides, become far too hot for children to play on.”

Professor Kathryn Holmes, also part of the Cool Schools research team, raised questions on the impact rising heat in play areas could have on children’s physical activity levels, as school students are expected to spend a lot more time indoors in the future to avoid the rapidly increasing temperatures.

She said teachers in NSW already deploy a range of traditional cooling strategies, such as encouraging appropriate clothing for the heat, ensuring blinds are closed and handing out water bottles on hot days. More schools have also had started installing covered outdoor learning areas (COLAs), to provide more shade.

“Yet, few studies look at the classroom environment and curricular activities when it comes to summer heat, or at the thermal comfort of children in outdoor play areas in Australia. We need more evidence-based findings to help children stay cool in a climate-changed future.”

The report also noted concerns that trees are disappearing from schools at an alarming rate. Dr Pfautsch questions how outdoor education can safely be delivered if temperatures are increasing, yet schoolyards are becoming distinctively empty and offer minimal shade.

“Trees provide significant environmental, economic, social, psychological and physiological benefits to students. As well as offering shade, trees create fresher air and provide fantastic habitat and food sources for insects and animals, resulting in beneficial learning and recreational environments for children. It’s very concerning to see even more trees rapidly disappearing from our schools,” said Dr Pfautsch.

The Cool Schools report forms part of Western Sydney University’s investment in sustainability-related research, with around 70 researchers and 400 projects already underway dedicated to a climate change-impacted future. Western Sydney University also launched a new awareness campaign, Earth IQ, aimed at engaging and empowering millennials and their communities through social media.

About the Cool Schools Initiative

The Western Sydney University Cool Schools Initiative (CSI) was launched in 2018 to develop interdisciplinary research programs for heat-resilient primary and secondary school environments and design of heat-resilient curriculum. This report summarises current research in health and environmental sciences, planning policy, legislation and standards, sustainability education, and innovative design trends. Its purpose is to inform future research into student thermal comfort and cooling solutions for schools in Western Sydney and NSW.

(Source: Western Sydney University)

Brisbane pollen forecast to help allergy sufferers

Polllen Season Ahead Warning — Caution Sign - Pollen Season Ahead

People with hayfever and seasonal asthma can keep a check on levels of grass pollen in the air that may aggravate their allergies with the official Brisbane Pollen forecast provided by QUT researchers.

A daily reading of grass pollens and six-day forecast is available here and via a free smartphone app;
A new forecasting model incorporates data from NASA’s Terra satellite MODIS and the NASA-US Geological Survey Landsat satellite showing areas of ‘greenness’ indicating grass growth;
Subtropical grasses flower around the Brisbane region from now until the end of April, with major peaks expected from January onwards;
Brisbane Pollen is part of the Australia-wide, multi-centre NHMRC AusPollen Partnership led by head of the QUT Allergy Research Group Professor Janet Davies.

Professor Davies, from QUT’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, said pollen measurements are being taken daily from the pollen trap located at the Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science (DES) air quality monitoring station at Rocklea, on Brisbane’s southside.

“Our team members collect pollen caught in the trap, and these samples are analysed under microscope in our laboratory to give measurements of pollen grains per cubic metre of air,” she said.

“These measurements are combined with weather information and the Landsat and MODIS satellite data to produce the forecast on a scale from low to extreme.”

Professor Davies said new pollen monitoring sites have also been set up around south-east Queensland in collaboration with the DES and Metro North Hospital and Health Services – at the Prince Charles Hospital at Chermside on Brisbane’s northside and at Mutdapilly near Ipswich.

These sites are providing research data and will in future become part of the pollen forecast network, providing greater coverage around south-east Queensland.

“We also have, in collaboration with Professor Alfredo Huete from University of Technology Sydney, phenology cameras at the pollen monitoring sites which take time-lapse photographs of the areas surrounding them,” Professor Davies said.

“These images will show grass growth and flowering, and this data will be analysed and used to further refine the pollen forecasting model.”

The Australia-wide AusPollen Partnership was established to provide accurate and localised information on pollen counts and an alert system to help protect people from life-threatening events, such as thunderstorm asthma. A thunderstorm asthma event in 2016 in Melbourne affected more than 10,000 people and claimed 10 lives.

Professor Davies said pollens from subtropical grass flowers can cause hayfever, and when hayfever isn’t well managed it can trigger an asthma attack.

“With the information provided by the pollen count people can be forewarned and take protective measures on expected high pollen days — avoid being outside or hanging out washing, keeping their home and car windows closed, and taking preventative medications such as antihistamines,” she said.

“People who experience severe hayfever or a cough, tight chest or breathing difficulties during the pollen season should seek medical advice, as they may have undiagnosed asthma.

“And those with asthma should ensure they have an up-to-date asthma action plan and are ready to respond should they have breathing difficulties.”

(Source: Queensland University of Technology)

HelpMe Feed Foundation is Born

Breastfeeding baby. Pretty mother holding her newborn child. Mom smile and nursing infant. Beautiful woman and new born love at home. Blond mother breast feeding baby.

The HelpMe Feed breastfeeding support project recently registered as a not-for-profit charity – the ‘HelpMe Feed Foundation.’

Thanks to the support of a passionate international team of researchers, designers and IBLCE certified lactation specialists, the HelpMe Feed vision is fast becoming a reality. The breastfeeding support technology is set to roll out from early 2019.

HelpMe Feed grew out of Small World Social’s ‘Mother Baby Project’ – based on Google Glass wearable tech.

Led by Director and data specialist, Madeline Sands, the mission of this social enterprise has always been clear: to support the next generation of breastfeeding mothers through smart, accessible technology.

Currently 86% of new parents are either Millennials or Gen Z – digital natives who work, live and connect through their smartphones. Despite being more connected than ever, when it comes to breastfeeding support, it can be easy for a new parent to slip through the cracks.

Mothers are isolated from support networks yet bombarded by conflicting and incorrect advice. HelpMe Feed seeks to overcome these challenges through customized, evidence based content delivered in an accessible format that’s available 24/7.

HelpMe Feed’s library of high quality short instructional videos are based on international standards set and prescribed by the World Health Organization. The content has been created with the support of many midwives and experienced health professionals and is fully independent of any commercial interests.

Targeting health professionals by providing ‘help for the breastfeeding helpers’, the app connects lactation specialists and volunteer coaches with new parents. This happens at no cost and from the convenient touchpoint of a smartphone.

For experienced volunteer coaches, the app provides an exciting new way to connect with new parents who need their expertise. For parents and the next generation of breastfed children, the potential health benefits are immensely promising.

(Source: HelpMe Feed)

London air pollution is restricting lung development | UK

Children exposed to diesel-dominated air pollution in London are showing poor lung capacity, putting them at risk of lifelong breathing disorders, according to a study led by Queen Mary University of London, King’s College London and the University of Edinburgh.

The research, published in The Lancet Public Health journal, shows that whilst traffic pollution control measures have improved air quality in London, they still need significant strengthening to protect children’s health.

Air pollution is a leading cause of global mortality, with the World Health Organization estimating over four million deaths annually caused by outdoor air pollution. Children are especially vulnerable and at risk of lifelong breathing disorders, asthma attacks, chest infections and earlier death.

‘Government failing to act decisively’

Professor Chris Griffiths from Queen Mary’s Blizard Institute said: “Despite air quality improvements in London, this study shows that diesel-dominated air pollution in cities is damaging lung development in children, putting them at risk of lung disease in adult life and early death.

“We are raising a generation of children reaching adulthood with stunted lung capacity. This reflects a car industry that has deceived the consumer and central government which continues to fail to act decisively to ensure towns and cities cut traffic.”

Low Emission Zones (LEZ) restrict or penalise vehicle entry into urban areas to encourage the uptake of lower emission technologies. London introduced the world’s largest city-wide LEZ in 2008, roughly contiguous with the M25 orbital motorway and encompassing around 8.5 million residents. But up until now, there has been little evidence on whether LEZs improve air quality or public health.

A loss of 5 per cent in lung capacity

2,164 children aged 8-9 were enrolled into the study from 28 primary schools in the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Greenwich and the City of London (all areas which fail to meet current EU nitrogen dioxide limits). The research team monitored children’s health and exposure to air pollutants over five years, covering the period when the LEZ was introduced and found:

Children exposed to air pollution showed significantly smaller lung volume (a loss of approximately 5 per cent in lung capacity). This was linked to annual exposures of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and other nitrogen oxides (NOx), both of which are in diesel emissions, and particulate matter (PM₁₀);
Following the implementation of London’s LEZ, there were small improvements in NO₂and NOx levels, but no improvements in PM₁₀;
Despite these improvements in air quality, there was no evidence of a reduction in the proportion of children with small lungs or asthma symptoms over this period;
The percentage of children living at addresses exceeding the EU limit for NO₂fell following the LEZ introduction, from 99 per cent in 2009 to 34 per cent in 2013, but they were exposed to higher levels when at school, many of which were next to busy roads;
Significant areas of inner and outer London still remain above the EU NO₂.

The researchers warn that, at the current rate of change of pollution levels, full compliance with EU limits for NO₂ for London remains distant, unless there is a significant tightening of current emission controls.

In the meantime, they say clinicians should consider advising parents of children with significant lung disease to avoid living in high pollution areas, or to limit their exposures.

Urgent need to improve air quality

Dr Ian Mudway from King’s College London said: “There is an urgent need to improve our air quality, especially within our congested cities. Policies such as the Low Emission Zone strive to do this, but their effectiveness needs careful and objective evaluation, not only in terms of whether they improve air quality, but more importantly, whether they deliver better health. As the evidence base grows demonstrating that air pollution impacts on the health of children born and growing up in our cities, so the justification for decisive action increases.”

Dr Samantha Walker, Director of Research and Policy at Asthma UK, said: “It is disappointing that the Low Emission Zone in London has not helped to improve children’s lung capacity and shows that a piecemeal approach to reducing air pollution does not work. If children’s lungs don’t develop properly as a result of air pollution it can increase their likelihood of developing asthma, leaving them coughing, wheezing and at risk of a life-threatening asthma attack. The Government needs to tackle toxic air by putting in place a new Clean Air Act to keep everyone, especially children, safe.”

Professor Frank Kelly from NIHR Health Impact of Environmental Hazards HPRU said: “These new findings linking air pollution and children’s lung growth provide further support for the introduction of the ultra-Low Emission Zone in London early next year.”

(Source: Queen Mary University of London, The Lancet Public Health)

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