October 30,2018:
On Monday, World Health Organization warned that,"Exposure to toxic air both indoors and out kills some 600,000 children under the age of 15 each year".
Data from WHO states that every day, 93% of children under the age of 15 a full 1.8 billion youngsters, including 630 million under the age of five breath dangerously polluted air.
In 2016 alone, some 600,000 children died from acute lower respiratory infections caused by polluted air, the WHO report found.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that,“Polluted air is poisoning millions of children and ruining their lives. This is inexcusable. Every child should be able to breathe clean air so they can grow and fulfil their full potential.”
According to WHO data, more than nine out of 10 people on the planet breath dangerously toxic air, causing some seven million premature deaths each year.
Air pollution is especially dangerous for children, and accounts for nearly one in 10 deaths among children under five around the globe, the report found.
WHO’s study, which examined health toll on children breathing health-hazardous levels of both outdoor and household air pollution, focused on dangerous particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5).
These include toxins like sulphate and black carbon, which pose the greatest health risks since they can penetrate deep into the lungs or cardiovascular system.
Report found that children in poorer countries are far more at risk, with a full 98 percent of all children under five in low and middle-income countries exposed to PM2.5 levels above WHO air quality guidelines.
WHO is calling for an acceleration of switch to clean cooking and heating fuels, and for promotion of cleaner transportation, lower emissions, and better waste management, among other measures.
Source HT
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