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A lakh kids under 5 died of pollution-linked illnesses in India in 2016: WHO report

In 2016, deaths of 1,01,788 children in India, under five years of age, was linked to the effects of exposure to ambient and household PM2.5 pollution the report said.

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Toxic air pollution, both ambient and household, has a lasting impact on child health. Globally, 93% children are exposed to fine Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) higher than the World Health Organisation's (WHO) standards, a new report of the WHO has said.

In 2016, deaths of 1,01,788 children in India, under five years of age, was linked to the effects of exposure to ambient and household PM2.5 pollution the report said.

This was the highest among all countries and only Nigeria, with 98,000 deaths of children under five years, recorded such a high number. The WHO report was released at the first global conference and air pollution and health

Across the globe, about 6 lakh deaths of children under 15 years were attributed to the joint effects of ambient and household air pollution in 2016, the report said. The level of exposure is higher in low-and-middle income countries with 98% of all children under five years exposed to PM2.5 levels above WHO limits. In high-income countries, 52% of children under five years are exposed to similar levels.

Raising an alarm, the WHO said that exposure to air pollution is an overlooked health emergency for children around the world. Children have been found to be more vulnerable to the ill-effects of air pollution as they breathe more rapidly than adults, thus absorbing more pollutants, the report stated. "They also live closer to the ground, where some pollutants reach peak concentrations, at a time when their brains are bodies are still developing," the report said.

Air pollution is affecting neuro development, leading to lower cognitive test outcomes, negatively affecting mental and motor development. It is also lowering lung function among children, even at lower levels of exposure.

"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 fulfill their full potential," says Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

The report also quoted an Indian study carried out in Tamil Nadu on impact of air pollution exposure on birth weight. The study investigated 1,285 women in the first trimester of their pregnancy and found that a 10 micrograms/metre cube increase in exposure to PM2.5 during pregnancy was associated with a decrease in birth weight of 4 g and a 2% increase in the prevalence of low birth weight.



"Air Pollution is stunting our children's brains, affecting their health in more ways than we suspected. But there are many straight-forward ways to reduce emissions of dangerous pollutants," says Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health at WHO.

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