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MMore than 600,000 children died from breathing polluted air in 2016, according to a World Health Organization report published Monday.
The agency estimated that 93 percent of children under the age of 15 in the world are breathing in their health and development at risk.
Children are affected before they are even born, the report found. When pregnant women are exposed to polluted air, they are more likely to have premature births than underweight. Officials said exposure while in the womb was leading to damage in brain development, resulting in poverty testing in schools and impeding motor functions.
"This is not only new but terribly shocking," Dr. Maria Neira, WHO's director of environmental and social determinants of health, said of the pre-birth findings.
Global Air Pollution and Health Conference, set to begin Tuesday. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO's Director General, last week called air pollution the "new tobacco" in terms of public health priorities.
Officials estimated in the report on Monday that 1 in 10 deaths among children under age 5 are caused by air pollution. Children are particularly vulnerable to illnesses because they breathe faster than adults. Pollution can trigger asthma, childhood cancer, and can lead to heart disease later in life.
Children around the world are not only exposed to their own homes, but families burn wood and kerosene for cooking, heating, and lighting.
Officials on the call with reporters said it was important for countries to push for renewable energy and to reduce the use of coal and gas. They said the U.S. had a low level of air pollution relative to other countries, attributing the progress to the Clean Air Act, but surmounted that the actions of the United States have been reduced.
There are also clusters of poor quality in every country, Dr. Sophie Gumy, a scientist in WHO's department of environmental and social determinants of health.
The Trump Administration has made progress in the United States, but it is also important to ensure that the environment is safe and effective.
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