Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/ask-dr.-sue-environmental-health-in-child-care-settings/5013135/
Since so many children are in child care, health experts are starting to look more closely at environmental health in these facilities. In October 1999, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a new publication on environmental issues for children. This paperback book has a bright green cover - and has already been nicknamed The Green Book. The Green Book includes a chapter on child care as well as chapters that address specific types of hazards and other common environments for children.Environmental studies that have been done in child care find indoor air pollution, lead hazards, and secondhand smoke problems. Other environmental hazards that have not been studied in child care contribute to ill health for children and adults in any setting. For example, child care settings may have asbestos, radon, medications, chemicals used by maintenance staff and exterminators, ultraviolet radiation due to inadequate shade, noise, and known asthma triggers such as animals and dust mites.
Air Quality
Crowding contributes to poor indoor air quality. High carbon dioxide levels are a marker for other indoor pollutants. When researchers measured levels of carbon dioxide in 91 Canadian child care centers, 90% of the facilities had levels above what is acceptable in office buildings. The higher ...