New Delhi: UNICEF, in its report, has revealed that air pollution is a ‘silent killer,’ killing 100 children every day under age five in East Asia and the Pacific regions. This statement was released on February 6, underscoring that air pollution levels increase sharply during the dry season, such as March and April. At present, over 500 million children in this region are badly affected due to the worsening of air quality.
The report further stated that air pollution surged inside homes amid the burning of solid fuels for cooking; it is linked to the deaths of a huge number of children under the age of five. Besides this, it is expected that 325 million children live in such nations where dangerous particle matter (PM2.5) levels have crossed the safe limits. A massive number of children are breathing air with more than above-average ozone pollution.
Experts believe that excessive air pollution has been damaging children’s mental as well as physical development. The polluted air they breathe affects their growth, lungs, and mental abilities as well. Therefore, respiratory diseases are increasing among children at a fast rate.
High air pollution is responsible for almost one death among four children, increasing premature birth, asthma, lung disease, and late development. Children who belong to low-income families are on the receiving end because their parents are not able to avail themselves of the expensive treatment.
UNICEF has asked different governments to take some stern steps to mitigate air pollution in their respective countries. They need to make potent environmental policies and take strict action against the violators. The health issue of the children in the entire region can be improved if action is taken for a cleaner environment.
