Janet Ogundepo The United Nations Children’s Fund Deputy Executive Director, Kitty van der Heijden, has revealed that nearly 2,000 children under the age of five die daily due to the negative effects of air pollution. She made this known in response to the new UNICEF-backed report released yesterday by an independent United States of America-based nonprofit research organisation, Health Effects Institute, and the State of Global Air. According to the report, which is a comprehensive analysis of data for air quality and health impacts for countries around the world in 2021, air pollution accounted for 8.
1 million deaths globally and pollution is now the second leading global risk factor for premature death. It added that it was responsible for over 700,000 children’s deaths in 2021, especially those under the age of five. The report further revealed that children are uniquely vulnerable to air pollution and the damage can start in the womb with health effects that can last a lifetime.
It further stated that young children’s exposure to air pollution has resulted in one in five deaths globally, while pneumonia and asthma affect children with inequities more than it does in high-income countries. UNICEF Deputy ED, van der Heijden said, “Despite progress in maternal and child health, every day almost 2000 children under five years die because of health impacts linked to air pollution. “Our inaction is having profound effects on the next generation, with lifelong health .