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About 93% of children in the world under the age of 15 (1.8 billion children) breathe toxic air every day. The air is so polluted that it can pose a serious danger to health and development. In many cases, it can even prove fatal, said Monday the World Health Organization (WHO).
The WHO also revealed that 600,000 children had died of lower respiratory tract infections caused by polluted air in 2016. The report "Air Pollution and Children's Health: Prescribing "Clean air" examines the heavy toll of ambient (outdoor) and household air pollution on the health of the world's children, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
The report is launched on the eve of the first-ever WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health. The report also found that pregnant women exposed to polluted air are more likely to give birth prematurely and have low birth weight babies.
Another shocking observation is that 14 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world are in India.
The WHO Global Database on Ambient Air Quality (Update 2018), published in May, indicates that the mortality and burden of disease associated with air pollution in India are also the highest in the world.
Every year, more than two million people die prematurely in India, accounting for 25% of deaths worldwide due to poor air quality. Most Indian cities, unlike New Delhi, do not have an emergency response plan to fight air pollution.
Although some cities such as Patna and Varanasi have recently formulated action plans, no one is in place to provide advice or instantly mitigate pollution at the source, as in the case of the plan. action in progressive response to fight against air pollution.
Pollution during the summer has also been widespread this year as the National Capital Region has experienced dust storms associated with local pollution issues.
The WHO report says that air pollution also affects neurodevelopment and cognitive abilities and can trigger asthma and cancer in the child.
Children who have been exposed to high levels of air pollution are more likely to suffer from chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease later in life.
"Polluted air poisons millions of children and ruins their lives," said the Director General of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a statement.
Children would be particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution because they breathe faster than adults and thus absorb more pollutants. In addition, they live closer to the ground, where certain pollutants reach maximum concentrations – at a time when their brains and bodies are still growing.
In addition, newborns and young children are often at home. If the family uses fuels such as wood and kerosene for cooking, heating and lighting, it will be exposed to higher levels of pollution than children who spend more time outside the home. the House.
"Air pollution hampers the brains of our children and affects their health more than we thought, but there are many simple ways to reduce emissions of harmful pollutants," said Maria Neira, director of the Department of Health. public, environmental and social determinants. of health at WHO, said.
Here are some foods recommended by our consultant nutritionist, Dr. Rupali Datta, to protect themselves from the harmful effects of air pollution:
1. Foods rich in vitamin C: The powerful antioxidant is essential for cleaning free radicals. An adequate supply of vitamin C in our daily diet is essential to maintain its level in the lungs. Adults need 40 mg of this vitamin / day. Fruits rich in vitamin C are amla, lemon and guava.
2. Foods rich in vitamin E: This fat-soluble vitamin is the first line of defense against human tissue damage. Vitamin E in our diet usually comes from herbal cooking oils. Sunflower oil, safflower and rice bran are the three main sources, followed by canola oil, peanut and olive oil.
3. Omega-3 fatty acids: These protect the body against the harmful effects of air pollution on the heart health and lipid profile of the patient. Foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids are nuts like almonds and nuts.
4. turmeric: Turmeric is a well-known antioxidant and would help protect the lungs from the toxic effects of pollutants. Prepare a glass of hot, soothing turmeric milk and boost your immune system.
Disclaimer: This content, including tips, provides generic information only. It is not in any way a substitute for qualified medical advice. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim any responsibility for this information.
(With IANS entries)
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