• 46 out of 100,000 children below the age of five died in Nepal in 2016

Kathmandu, October 31

Every day around 93 per cent (1.8 billion) of the world’s children under the age of 15 years breathe air that is so polluted it puts their health and development at serious risk. Tragically, many of them die.

The World Health Organisation estimates that in 2016, 600,000 children died from acute lower respiratory infections caused by polluted air. A new WHO report on ‘’Air pollution and child health: Prescribing Clean Air’’ in Geneva examines the heavy toll of both ambient (outside) and household air pollution on the health of the world’s children, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The report is being launched on the eve of WHO’s Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health.

It reveals that when pregnant women are exposed to polluted air, they are more likely to give birth prematurely, and have small, low birth-weight children. Air pollution also impacts neuro-development and cognitive ability and can trigger asthma, and childhood cancer.

Children who have been exposed to high levels of air pollution may be at greater risk for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease later in life. “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,” said  WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

One reason why children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution is that they breathe more rapidly than adults and so absorb more pollutants, states the report. They also live closer to the ground, where some pollutants reach peak concentrations – at a time when their brains and bodies are still developing.

Newborns and young children are also more susceptible to household air pollution in homes that use polluting fuels.

“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,” said Dr Maria Neira, director, Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health at WHO.

“WHO is supporting implementation of health-wise policy measures like accelerating the switch to clean cooking and heating fuels and technologies, promoting the use of cleaner transport, energy-efficient housing and urban planning. We are preparing the ground for low emission power generation, cleaner, safer industrial technologies and better municipal waste management,” she added.

According to the report, 46 and 1.5 out of 100,000 children aged below five and between five and 14 years in Nepal died due to exposure to ambient (PM2.5) in 2016 respectively. Likewise, exposure to household pollution killed 51.8 and 1.6 out of 100,000 children below five and between five and 14 years in 2016 accordingly.