Is it Safe to Take Children to Olympics in Beijing?
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Apart from the human rights issues, one of the major concerns with the Olympics being held in Beijing, China is the level of pollution. As a matter of fact many athletes are worried about the air quality there and how it will impact them and their health. Based on this, many persons are wondering if it is safe for children.
Despite the fact that China has been implementing some harsh measures to help combat the smog ? I doubt it will help. After reading what Drs. Gokhan Mutlu and Scot Budinger from Northwestern University?s Feinberg School of Medicine, Illinois, wrote, I am convinced that it is not safe for children to take them to Beijing. According to the doctors, ?it is not just athletes who are risk from the smog, but spectators as well.? The research published by the doctors indicated that pollution can actually result in heart attacks and strokes in persons by thickening the blood. Can you image what it can do to little hearts?
Luckily for the spectators and athletes, for the most part Beijing has been fairly clean so far. That doesn?t mean that the air quality is good enough for children to be exposed to, though.
In addition to the pollution issues, CNN.com/asia reported in early May that China was facing the breakout of a deadly child virus. The Enterovirus 71 (EV71) resulted in the death of 22 children at last report. Thousands more have become sick, some critically ill. The EV71 virus symptoms are many and varied. They include diarrhea, colds, skin rashes and encephalitis.
Ultimately, as an asthmatic I would definitely not take a child to the Olympics in China. I know the difficulties associated with trying to breathe in a polluted place. It is just not worth it in my book.
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