How Poor Indoor Air Impacts Growing Bodies and Minds

Would you let your children drink dirty water every day?

Probably not. Yet, we often overlook what they’re breathing — especially indoors, where kids spend most of their time. In homes, schools, and daycare centres, indoor air pollution quietly undermines health, development, and future potential.

In Part 1, we uncovered what’s really in indoor air. Now, let’s explore what that air is doing to us — especially to the most vulnerable: children and pregnant women.

When Every Breath Matters: General Health Impacts of Indoor Air Pollution

Indoor air pollution doesn’t just cause minor inconveniences like sneezing or coughing. Over time, exposure to pollutants such as particulate matter (PM₂.₅), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) can lead to serious, lifelong health issues.

Scientific reviews show that poor indoor air quality is linked to:

• Respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis
• Reduced lung function and chronic infections
• Cognitive impairments and potential neurodevelopmental disorders
• Allergies and eczema
• Increased risk of childhood leukemia (especially from benzene exposure) (EEA, 2023)

Alarmingly, in Europe alone, air pollution was responsible for over 1,200 child deaths under 18 in 2021. And the impact begins much earlier than you might think (EEA, 2023).

Life Before Birth: How Indoor Air Pollution Affects the Unborn

Exposure to air pollution during pregnancy can silently shape a child’s entire future health.

• Low birth weight and preterm birth are strongly associated with prenatal exposure to PM₂.₅ and NO₂ (Veras et al., 2022, Šrám et al., 2005).
• Stillbirths and miscarriages are more likely when expectant mothers are exposed to high levels of fine particles (HEI, 2024).
• Pollutants like PM₂.₅ can cross the placenta, directly reaching the developing fetus and influencing organ growth (Clinical Lab Products, 2022).

One systematic review found that prenatal exposure to air pollution, especially PM₂.₅, is linked to reduced brain white matter and developmental delays. This suggests that cognitive, emotional, and behavioral problems could be seeded even before a child is born (Zhao et al., 2024).

Pregnancy, a time that should foster life and growth, becomes a period of silent risk when the air we breathe is compromised.

Inside Daycares and Schools: A Hidden Risk

Air quality in daycares and schools often fails to meet basic health standards. Up to 30% of children in the EU are exposed to poor indoor conditions like dampness, mould, or poor ventilation (RAND Europe, 2023). These conditions are linked to increased school absences, lower academic performance, and higher rates of asthma, allergies, and infections. Indoor CO₂ levels over 1000 ppm and PM2.5 from poorly ventilated classrooms impair attention span, cognitive development, and memory retention (EEA, 2023; WHO Europe, 2022).

The proportion, in percentage, of children across EU-28, exposed to at least one poor indoor climate (Gehrt et al., 2022).

On average, children in daycare get sick 8–12 times per year, most commonly from respiratory infections. While frequent illness is expected in early childhood, poor indoor air quality significantly increases the risk of transmission. High CO₂ levels, dust, bacteria, and airborne viruses linger longer in enclosed, poorly ventilated rooms — turning shared spaces into hubs for infection spread.

Implementing measures such as improving ventilation systems, using air purifiers, and selecting low-emission materials for furnishings and toys can significantly enhance indoor air quality in daycare settings, creating a healthier environment for children to grow and thrive.

Breathing Better: What Comes Next

We’ve seen how poor indoor air quality doesn’t just inconvenience — it deeply affects how children grow, learn, and stay healthy. From pregnancy to preschool, the air we breathe shapes our bodies and brains in powerful, invisible ways.

In Part 3, we’ll share real stories of how poor indoor air has affected children — in daycares, classrooms, and homes. From recurring illness to learning difficulties, these stories highlight the urgency of awareness — and how communities are responding.

Sources

• Smith, K. R. (2002). Indoor air pollution in developing countries: Recommendations for research. Indoor Air, 12(3), 198–207.
• National Research Council (NRC). (2004). Damp Indoor Spaces and Health. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
• Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH, 2020)
• Lawlor, R. (2024). Pollution: Its Impact on Respiratory Health. Primary Care Respiratory Update, Issue 28, Spring/Summer 2024.
• Veras, M., Waked, D., & Saldiva, P. (2022). Safe in the womb? Effects of air pollution to the unborn child and neonates. Jornal de Pediatria, 98(S1), S27–S31.
• Šrám, R. J., Binková, B., Dejmek, J., & Bobak, M. (2005). Ambient air pollution and pregnancy outcomes: a review of the literature. Environmental Health Perspectives, 113(4), 375–382.
• Health Effects Institute. (2024). State of Global Air 2024: A Special Report on Global Exposure to Air Pollution and Its Health Impacts, with a Focus on Children’s Health. Boston, MA: Health Effects Institute.
• Clinical Lab Products. (2022, October 26). Air Pollution Exposure During Pregnancy Has Long-Term Impact on Child’s Health.
• Zhao, J., He, T., Wang, F., & Liu, W. (2024). Association of prenatal and postnatal exposure to air pollution with clinically diagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review. Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1396251.
• European Environment Agency. (2023). Air Pollution and Children’s Health (Briefing No. 07/2023). Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
• Gehrt, D., Hafner, M., Grollov, S. T., & Christoffersen, J. (2022). Impacts of the Indoor Environment in Our Homes and Schools on Child Health. IAQ 2020: Indoor Environmental Quality Performance Approaches. ASHRAE.