According to a report released by the Institute for Health Effects Research and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), more than 700,000 children under the age of 5 die every day worldwide from health problems related to air pollution. The report, titled the State of Global Air, was published on June 19 and highlights the alarming impact of air pollution on global health.
Exposure to air pollution is responsible for the deaths of 8.1 million people in 2021, making it the second leading risk factor for premature death after high blood pressure. Children under 5 are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution, with over 700,000 deaths attributed to this age group. Cooking indoors with unclean fuels like coal, wood, or dung accounts for more than half of these deaths.
The report reveals that over 90% of deaths related to air pollution are caused by PM2.5 fine dust particles, which can lead to serious health issues such as lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Dr. Pallavi Pant, head of global health at the Institute for Health Effects Research, emphasizes that air pollution is a solvable problem but may be underestimated in its impact. She urges countries to take concrete actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit the use of solid fuels for cooking.
Ozone pollution is expected to worsen due to climate change and caused nearly half a million deaths in 2021. Dr. Pant stresses that immediate action is necessary to protect children from the devastating health effects of air pollution and calls upon governments around the world to prioritize this issue in their policies and programs. Kitty van der Heijden, deputy executive director of UNICEF also stresses on addressing this issue urgently as it will have long-term consequences on next generation’s health if not tackled now.
In conclusion, air pollution poses an enormous threat not only to human life but also