In South Asia, the new repost is shared of picture of air pollution’s impact on children’s health. Due to air pollution or related causes 1.6 lakh (160,000) children under 5 in India alone died, the data is shared by the state of global air report. This data shows to an air pollution- linked death are the global average of 108 per 100,000. And now it is increased to the rate of 164 per 100,000 children in south Asia.
Air Pollution Kills Most Children Under Five in South Asia
Followed by Nigeria, Pakistan, Ethiopia, and Bangladesh, India leads the world in air pollution-related deaths among children under five. The attributing to the developing bodies and lungs to a greater risk of inhaling and absorbing pollutants, the report shows the unique vulnerability of children to air pollution. Including premature birth, low birth weight, asthma, and lung diseases, air pollution are linked to a range of health problems in children. Surpassed by the malnutrition, air pollution exposure was the second-leading risk factor for deaths among children under five in South Asia in 2021.
With 53% drop since 2000, the report admits some progress made globally in reducing air pollution-linked deaths in children under five. However, this advance is unequally distributed, with South Asia and parts of Africa fall behind. This particular measures focused on reducing PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) and ozone exposure. The report highlight the need for further action to restrict air pollution.
These air pollutants are in accountable for the vast majority of air pollution-related deaths globally.
Million Deaths Spark Call for Child-Centred Action on Pollution
With an estimated 8.1 million deaths attributed to air pollution globally in 2021, the staggering numbering further puts an urgency on this issue.
The report calls for governments and businesses to take a child-focused approach to reducing air pollution and protecting children’s health which includes data utilization in order to make effective policies and promoting access to clean energy sources.
