Air pollution: more than 90% of children in the world breathe toxic air

"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, the environment and social issues. Determinants of health at WHO.

According to the WHO, children are more sensitive to pollution because they breathe more, absorb more pollutants, and are closer to the ground, where some pollutants have higher concentrations.

India reaches high season

In rare places, pollution is more relevant than India 's most populous city, Delhi, where locals are bracing for the peak of the crop season and the annual Hindu Diwali festival, which is one of the world' s largest. add to a thick toxic fog spilled over the city.

"Air pollution is one of the major risk factors for the national burden of disease in India," the report says, adding that researchers have followed more than 1,000 women in India throughout pregnancy and have discovered a direct correlation between increased exposure to pollution and premature babies underweight.

"The weather conditions should become unfavorable from November 1," warned the Indian Meteorological Department in a statement released last week. A working group led by the country's Central Pollution Control Committee (CPCB) recommended to ban all construction activities in the Delhi-NCR region for 10 days in order to reduce dust, as the quality air should deteriorate.

The average level of PM2.5 – particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter that could dangerously clog the lungs – was 354 Monday in the city. WHO considers that the levels under 25 be acceptable for humans to breathe regularly.

According to the report, 98% of children under 5 are exposed to PM2.5 levels above WHO's air quality guidelines. In comparison, in high-income countries, 52% of children under 5 are exposed to such levels.

The air of Delhi is so polluted that locals could live up to nine years older than they meet the standards of the WHO, said the Energy Policy Institute of the United States. University of Chicago in a study published in 2017.

Last year, the Indian Medical Association declared a public health emergency because of alarming levels of pollution and hospitals were clogged by wheezing of men, women, and children .

Why is it so bad in India?

As winter approaches, crops burned, firecrackers, as well as falling temperatures fuel the annual deterioration in the already poor air quality of Delhi.

Every year, farmers in fertile neighboring countries fire their fields to clean up for the next season. This practice, known as thatch burning, means millions of tons of crop residues are burned, releasing innumerable amounts of particles into the environment.

Thatch burning in the northern states of Punjab and Haryana contributed 32 percent of Delhi's total pollution on Saturday, according to a report released by the Air Quality and Weather Prediction System (SAFAR). .

Authorities have tried to reduce crop losses by imposing fines and subsidizing other machinery, but there is still no affordable alternative for many farmers.

The city is also preparing for Diwali, the annual festival of lights, which begins this year on November 7th. The locals celebrate this event by lighting lamps and extinguishing firecrackers, which caused a sharp rise in pollution levels in previous years.

During Diwali last year, the Delhi Air Quality Index reached 604, more than 24 times the level that WHO considers safe.

What do we do about it?

In response to the decline in air quality in India, the country The Environmental Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) has initiated the implementation of a progressive action plan for the second consecutive year, under which certain measures are taken when the air quality is degrading.

Measures introduced to date include a mechanized periodic sweeping of busy roads, water spraying on unpaved roads and an increase in parking fees of up to four times. time. Rules are also applied for dust control in construction activities and only trucks registered after 2005 are allowed to enter the city.

If the situation deteriorates sufficiently, the authorities will consider banning totally trucks and construction in the city.

Government agencies have asked residents of Delhi to keep the windows closed, wear masks and minimize the use of private vehicles to limit the effects of the city's growing pollution. They also advised people to avoid outdoor activities in the coming days.

What must be done globally?

WHO says a range of actions are needed to reduce the problem and protect the health of children around the world, including the implementation of new policies to reduce pollution levels, such as dependence on fossil fuels and promoting the use of renewable energies. greater resources for health professionals, improved waste management and location of schools and playgrounds away from busy roads and factories.

"The WHO supports the implementation of health protection measures such as accelerating the switch to fuels and clean cooking and heating technologies, promoting the use of cleaner transport." , energy-efficient housing construction and urban planning, "said Neira from WHO. "We are laying the groundwork for low-emission electricity generation, cleaner, safer industrial technologies and better management of municipal waste."