To get the oxygen from air, lungs have a lot of work. They must filter tiny particles from the air. They must be free of irritation so you can breathe easily.

But when air is polluted, all kinds of trouble can happen. Too many particles can escape the natural filter system in the lungs. Hazardous chemicals can hurt the delicate lung tissues, making it harder to breathe. The air can be polluted outdoors, or it can be polluted indoors. Anytime that air is polluted, it interferes with the work that your lungs do.

When kids breathe polluted air every day, their lungs become damaged, unable to do the work of getting enough oxygen to the blood. Simple breathing becomes difficult or painful. That's why polluted air is bad for health!

Enter the "Kids for Clean Air" Poster Contest
You can help to make sure that you and other kids have clean air to breathe. The "Kids for Clean Air" program of the American Lung Association is a way to learn about how to fight air pollution. Ask your teacher to call the American Lung Association about the program! (Our number is 619-297-3901.) After learning about air pollution, you can enter a contest with a poster that you can make. The posters show what kids can do to clean up air pollution.

The "Kids for Clean Air" Poster Contest is held between February and April each year, with winners announced in May.

Learn About Air Pollution
There's a lot to learn about air pollution. You might be interested in the health effects of air pollution - what polluted air does to your body. Or you might want to know the difference between clean air and polluted air - the chemicals and particles that make pollution and where they come from. You might be curious why we have polluted air at all! The American Lung Association has an educational program, "Kids for Clean Air" that your teacher can use to help you learn about pollution.

You can also look up words and ideas on the web or in the encyclopedia. Here's a vocabulary list that you can use to get started:

Beginning:
Atmosphere
Lungs
Oxygen
Pollen
Pollution
Smog
Soot

Intermediate:
Airborne
Ozone
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Monoxide
Particulate Matter
Symptoms

Advanced:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Hydrocarbons
Nitrogen Dioxide
Sulfur Dioxide
Susceptible

Indoor Air Can be Polluted, Too
Air pollution doesn't just happen outdoors. When the air inside your home or school contains chemical spray, too much dust, flying hair or dander from pets, then it can become a pollution problem. Kids spend a lot of time indoors, so polluted indoor air can be a health problem.

Yes, You Can Make the Air Cleaner!
Here's what you can do:
Ride a bike
Walk, don't go in a car
Use the bus or trolley
For car trips, share the ride
Don't waste electricity
Recycle
Plant a tree
Don't use spray products

Help your family fight pollution, too!

• Ask your parents to report smoking vehicles to the Air Pollution Control District (call 1-800-28-SMOKE)
• Alert your parents to how they can pollute less
• Ask your parents to drive a cleaner car: all-electric, ultra-low-emission, or compressed natural gas-powered.