WHO: More than 90% of children in the world breathe polluted air

On Monday, WHO launched its first global conference on air pollution and health in Geneva, Switzerland. At the same time, the organization published a new report, warning that contamination is a time bomb in terms of young people's health.

"Is unforgivable"

The air is polluted by 1.8 billion children – accounting for 93% of all children in the world. Medical experts are constantly discovering new evidence that it causes health problems ranging from low birth weight to asthma, heart disease and slower development of the nervous system.

It is not uncommon for health problems to lead to premature death. In 2016, seven million children were killed by air pollution.

"The tainted air poisons millions of children and destroys their lives," said WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom. The Guardian.

He thinks it's unforgivable.

– All children should be able to breathe clean air to grow and reach their full potential.

Particularly sensitive

The worst is the situation in the least developed countries of Africa, Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Western Pacific, where coal and wood are used as fuel.

According to the WHO, children are particularly sensitive to air pollution, which is usually more concentrated on the ground. At the same time, their developing organs and nervous system are more vulnerable to long-term injury than adults.

"Air pollutants impede our children's brains, affecting their health in more ways than we thought," said Maria Neira, director of environment and health at the WHO, according to The Guardian .