Contents
Indoor pollution: the right actions to adopt
From the beginning of spring, we hear only that: sneezing due to hay fever. Respiratory, food and ENT allergies are part of the daily life of many French people. Indoor pollution is one of the causes of their increase. Is it possible to prevent allergic risks? What are the right actions to adopt? We answer all your questions.
The impact of indoor pollution on allergies
First of all, a health observation is essential. The number of allergies has doubled in the last twenty years. One in three French people suffers from allergy, 25% of children of school age have allergic rhinitis and 10% have asthma, mainly of allergic origin. Almost 10% of children under 3 have eczema and 8% have a food allergy. The researchers therefore looked into the origin of this allergic “boom”. There are several explanations. One of them: the degradation of the external environment, between pollution, waste rejected by factories, climatic modifications… But this is far from being the only cause. Many studies have shown that the concentration of pollutants inside buildings is very high. However, most French people today spend 80% to 90% of their time in closed and closed spaces.. This pollution has various origins: biological, chemical or physical. Many building materials as well as decorative elements emit volatile organic compounds: compounds of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, which are very toxic to the body. A “Housing” campaign was conducted by the Indoor Air Quality Observatory on 567 housing units representative of the French stock between 2003 and 2005. This shows that 80% to 100% of homes have detectable concentrations of volatile organic compounds.
Certain animals also contribute to polluting our indoor environments: dogs, cats, new pets or NACs (ferrets for example), mites and other cockroaches are an important source of allergies. However, half of French housing has high levels of allergens from dust mites, cats and / or dogs. Mites (very distant cousins of spiders) are generally present in bedding, carpets, rugs, sofas, soft toys and curtains. Know that it is their droppings and the casing of their corpse that cause an allergy.
The Indoor Air Quality Observatory has also shown that 37% of homes are contaminated with mold (visible or hidden). And guess what the mites eat, among others? Mold of course! Dead skin too …
Allergies: the right actions at home
Know that even before your baby is born, you can protect him from allergies. Allergies can be hereditary, if you are pregnant, check with family members to see if there is a history other than yours. Beware of chemicals during your pregnancy, they are real “immunity destroyers”, specifies Doctor Nhan PHAM-THI, pediatric allergist, immunologist at Necker hospital. Do not hesitate to talk to your doctor, he may prescribe probiotics before and after the birth of your child. These help boost the immune system and can help prevent disease.
For the nursery, before buying furniture, look at the labels. Since January 1, 2012, manufacturers must specify the content of their products in volatile organic compounds (10 substances to report in total).
Is it, Baby is there? We cannot repeat it enough, breastfeeding is excellent for its immunity. This plays a significant role in the appearance of allergies. Parents can also take steps to prevent skin allergies by applying a emollient cream on their baby’s dry skin. It provides an additional protective layer. For more information, consult your doctor or pediatrician. Be aware that a baby who has repeated early viral infections has a high risk of developing asthma later on.
In everyday life, there are a few “good things to know”. It is important to ventilate its interior regularly. Regular cleaning of parts with damp, lukewarm rags is a good way to remove dust and allergens without resuspending them in the ambient air. You can also acquire a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter which retains up to 99,7% of particles. Clean the filters regularly for optimal use. It is best to talk to your allergist before buying an “air purifier” appliance. Some of these devices are said to be harmful and a source of allergens. Also watch out for tobacco, smokers must go outside to smoke at all costs of the House !
To fight against dust mites, you will have to pay attention to the humidity in your home. Choose your bedding carefully : buy an anti-dust mite cover if you are advised to do so. Regularly wash your duvet cover, pillows, etc. The same goes for your baby’s cuddly toys and blanket. Small tip: it is preferable to wash the household linen and blanket at 60 ° every 4 months.
When it comes to mold, avoid buying anti-mold products. Prefer a little diluted bleach to wash the “contaminated” places. Also watch out for plants and joints in the refrigerator.
Allergic risks: and at school?
In 2011, nearly 7 million children returned to school. As saying that the quality of indoor air in schools has become a public health concern because it is the second home for French children. According to doctor Nhan PHAM-THI, the chemical components present in schools are a real “cocktail of poisons”. Children can be exposed to chemical or organic contaminants on a daily basis: mold, allergens from pets, pests, physicochemical pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide. There are also the famous volatile organic compounds. The origin of these allergies and toxic products? The location of schools, the construction materials used, furniture, school supplies, cleaning products, the occupancy rate of classrooms and the lack of ventilation of the premises. Most schools are not equipped with a ventilation system… Moreover, the air renewal rate is lower than the recommendations. As of January 1, 2015, regulations will be put in place for collective accommodation establishments for children under 6 and nursery schools (for elementary schools, it will be necessary to wait until January 1, 2018), mandatory monitoring of indoor air quality will be introduced in these establishments. The presence of the three most harmful substances (formaldehyde, benzene and carbon dioxide) will be assessed first. These regulations also provide for an assessment of the ventilation means. “Probably not enough” according to doctor Nhan PHAM-THI who calls for a review of the prevention policy. The doctor encourages parents to take part in this prevention. “Do not hesitate to go and see the specifications of the constructions, what paints are used, will the means of ventilation be sufficient? What components are there in the coatings? etc ”. Also note that health labeling of construction products, coating (walls and floors) and paints and varnishes has been imposed since January 1, 2012 for new products placed on the market. This increased transparency should encourage the use of less toxic products during the construction or renovation of buildings..
Should we go back to the “stone age”? This is shown by a study still in progress. Researchers did two cross-searches. One with a group of children living on traditional farms and the other with a group of classic reference children. Those who grow up in an environment that allows a wide range of microbial exposure such as on traditional farms are protected from childhood asthma and atopy. For now, researchers have not been able to identify the major factor (s) but rather groups of microbes associated with the consumption of farm milk that confer this protection against allergies and the onset of asthma. The challenge: to identify the protective elements and determine these species with precision, their mode of action, in order to better protect children from childhood asthma. |