Professor Cajetan Onyedum Janet Ogundepo Lately, environmental experts have reported a rise in air pollution, prompting pulmonologists to fear a surge in chronic inflammatory lung diseases. This warning is coming on the heels of a comprehensive analysis of air quality and health impact data for countries worldwide in 2021 by the State of Global Air, published in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund, last week. The report, released by the Health Effects Institute, revealed that air pollution was responsible for the deaths of 8.
1 million people globally, in 2021. It further found out that children under the age of five are vulnerable to air pollution and was responsible for over 700,000 child deaths in 2021. PUNCH Healthwise earlier reported that children were more vulnerable to air pollution and that young children’s exposure to air pollution has resulted in one in five deaths globally.
Reacting to the report, UNICEF’s Deputy Executive Director, Kitty van der Heijden, said about 2,000 children under the age of five die daily from the negative effects of air pollution. She said, “Despite progress in maternal and child health, every day almost 2,000 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 and well-being impacts.
The global urgency is undeniable. It is imperative governments and businesses consider these estimates and locally avai.