On the eve of Velo-city, ECF’s Health Policy officer, Dr Randy Rzewnicki, has a few words about recent news on children and health

When it comes to kids and health, there were a couple things that deserve attention both in the popular press and research news.

On the one hand we now know that diesel air pollution is linked to lung cancer, and that the levels of it are astonishingly high in many cities; on the other hand we’re seeing that kids are doing less and less physical activity. In the UK they are not benefiting from the myth that the Olympics would inspire their younger generation to do more sports.

The “Diesel Exhaust in Miners” study shows that diesel is a serious pollutant, and the links to cancer are becoming clear. The burden, as it  is called, is on the general population, the people who need to live and breathe where the motor vehicle pollution is being emitted. Some of the worst cases are cities, and in Europe, the Americas, the world, actually, that’s where the great majority of children are living. In some places,  like Oxford Street in London, the levels of diesel engine exhaust are as high as miners are breathing. This is very troubling, as it’s now well established that this is a severe health hazard. But more disturbing is that the lower levels of diesel engine exhaust are widespread and affecting the general population. Of course this means kids too. Even in areas where deisel fumes are considered “low”  it' still  high enough to add to cancer risk. (Ref: Attfield et al; 2012; & Rushton, 2012, both in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.)

Kids don’t drive, but they do live and breathe like the rest of us. We have a responsibility to provide clean  air so they can grow and thrive. Getting diesel vehicles off the roads is one way. Reducing motor vehicle traffic in general is another. Make the streets safe for kids to travel by foot and by bike, and just to get out and play on. The European Cyclists' Federation (ECF) and partners are working on a program to reduce inner city traffic by moving goods by cycle. I’ll be talking about that at Velo-city (on Tuesday 26 June at 11am).

That’s related to another story that caught my eye on the way over here to Velo-city in the Independent newspaper: Sports England announced with great pride that the run up to the Olympics has seen an increase of 1.3 million people reporting more sports and physical activity since the Games were won in 2005. That’s indeed good news. But we need to note that this is an increase in people reporting “playing sport at least once a week.” Once a week is certainly not bad, and any increase in physical activity is good. But for health,  what we need to see is people being physically active every day – and the easiest way to do that is via walking and cycling for transport. People just cant get enough sport into their lives these days, that’s a fact that we have to live with.

 Unfortunately, Sports England reported the numbers of youngsters who are doing sports has decreased by 1.6%, in that same 2005 -2012 period. That’s 100,000 fewer 16-25 year olds mind you. The Independent newspaper quoted UK Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson acknowledging “The long term downward trend is a concern” and Jennie Price the chief at Sports England calling it “worrying”. She went on to say “The numbers are hard to shift because there is so much going on in young people’s lives and they consume sport in a very different way it how it has been traditionally offered.”

The Olympics is be hailed as younger generation's chance to do more sports despite the fact that there is no record of sports participation increasing related to the Games. I have to trust the Independent’s reporting on that last point, but it’s not really surprising to me at all. I think that what spectacle sports events do is encourage youth to sit down on their bums for long periods of time and consume media. There doesn’t have to be anything wrong with that, if, like everything, if it’s taken in moderation. And, of course if it’s well balanced with plenty of regular physical activity. But, that’s just what Sports England says is not happening.

The way to get your minimum dose of daily activity is Active Transport: walk or cycle. Do it for yourself, for your health, and for above all, for children. 

Dr. Randy Rzewnicki is ECF's Health Officer and Project manager for Cycle Logistics. He  can be reached at randy@ecf.com.

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