Air pollution killed more than one lakh of children in India in one year: the WHO

According to a study by the World Health Organization (WHO), 98% of children under five in low- and middle-income countries like India are exposed to toxic air. According to the study, more than one lakh of children of the same age died as a result of air pollution in India in 2016.

In addition to the WHO study, another report from the social work organization Greenpeace painted a dark picture of India's pollution.

The report says that three of the world's biggest air pollutant emission hot spots are in India. Delhi-NCR, Sonbhadra in Uttar Pradesh, Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh and Talcher-Angul in Odisha are the biggest hot spots where the level of air pollution is the highest of the country.

The WHO study indicates that a total of 101,788 deaths among under-fives – 54,893 girls and 46,895 boys – in 2016 were reported due to the effects of environmental pollution. the air in the houses and on the outside.

The report notes that air pollution is one of the biggest threats to children 's health, causing nearly one in 10 deaths among children under five. Air pollution can also cause childhood cancer, asthma, poor lung function, pneumonia and other types of acute lower respiratory infection, the report said .

The WHO report cited a case study to determine whether PM2.5 exposure during pregnancy was associated with low birth weight in a Tamil Nadu integrated rural-urban mother-child cohort.

Globally, nearly 6 children under 15 years of age under the age of 15 died as a result of ambient and household air pollution in 2016, according to a WHO report titled "Pollution of the World". air and children's health: prescribe clean air ".

The problem is more acute in less developed and developing countries like India compared to developed countries. "In low- and middle-income countries around the world, 98% of
children less than 5 years are exposed to PM2.5 levels higher than those of WHO
air quality guidelines. In comparison, in high-income countries, 52% of
children less than 5 years are exposed to levels higher than those of the WHO
air quality guidelines, "says the study.

PM2.5 (or particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers present in
air), also called "fine particles", can pose a health problem more serious than PM10 (diameter less than 10 micrometers).

PM2.5 is more harmful because it is thinner and can be easily inhaled through the respiratory tract.

PM2.5 has reached dangerous levels in New Delhi in the last two weeks.



(Reuters and PTI entries)