Another report from United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says in regards to third of the 2 billion kids on the world who are breathing harmful air live in northern India and neighboring nations, gambling genuine wellbeing impacts including harm to their lungs, brains and different organs.
As a part of the Clear the Air for Children report, satellite symbolism was utilized to look at regions of focus worldwide where harmful levels surpass rules set by the World Health Organization (WHO). The symbolism affirms around 2 billion kids live in ranges where outside air contamination, brought on by elements, for example, vehicle discharges, overwhelming utilization of fossil fuels, clean and copying of waste, surpasses least air quality rules set by WHO.
Of that global total, 300 million kids are exposed to pollution levels more than six times higher than standards set by the WHO, including 220 million in South Asia.
South Asia has the largest number of children living in these areas, at 620 million, with Africa following at 520 million children. The East Asia and Pacific region has 450 million children living in areas that exceed guideline limits.
The report comes a week ahead of the 22nd Conference of Parties (COP22) taking place in Marrakesh, Morocco, where UNICEF is calling on world leaders to take measures to drastically cut global emissions.
“Air pollution is a major contributing factor in the deaths of around 600,000 children under five every year – and it threatens the lives and futures of millions more every day,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. “Pollutants don’t only harm children’s developing lungs – they can actually cross the blood-brain barrier and permanently damage their developing brains – and, thus, their futures. No society can afford to ignore air pollution.”
The Conference of Parties is a part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) entered into force in 1994, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.
The study also examines the heavy toll of indoor pollution, commonly caused by use of fuels like coal and wood for cooking and heating, which mostly affects children in low-income, rural areas.
Air pollution is directly linked to pneumonia and other respiratory diseases that account for almost one in 10 deaths for children under the age of five.
Children are naturally more vulnerable to air pollution as their lungs, brains and immune systems are still developing and their respiratory tracks are more permeable. Those living beneath or near the poverty line, already suffer from poorer health due to inadequate access to health services and basic nutrition.
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