The analysis emphasizes the devastating effect of toxic air on young lives, with air pollution, which is now linked to almost one in four deaths of under five in the region.
Exposure begins in the uterus, increases the risks of premature birth and low birth weight and continues throughout childhood, detract from lung development, reduces cognitive function and contributes to chronic diseases such as asthma and cardiovascular conditions.
“Every breath means but for too many children every breath can bring harm,“Said June Kunugi, UNICEF regional director for East Asia and Pacific.
“The air they breathe, at a time when their bodies and minds are still developing, contains too often unhealthy levels of pollution that may include their growth, damage their lungs and impair their cognitive development.”
Each child at risk
The report reveals that All 500 million children in the region live in countries with unhealthy air.
Over 325 million children are exposed to annual fine particles (PM2.5) levels that exceed the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines by five times or more, while 373 million live in areas with dangerous levels of nitrogen dioxide, a gas emitted by vehicles and vehicles and industrial processes.
Almost half of PM2.5 pollution in the worst affected countries comes from the incineration of fossil fuels, biomass and agricultural waste-and so large contributors to climate change.
As extreme weather events worsen due to climate change, air pollution is expected to become an even greater threat, UNICEF warned.
Effects in addition to health
The effects of the air pollution crisis go beyond health.
High pollution levels force school closures, interfere with learning and increase medical expenses, struggle already overwhelmed health systems.
The World Bank estimates that in 2019, The financial cost of air pollution from PM2.5 in East Asia and Pacific accounted for $ 2.5 trillion, or 9.3 percent of the region’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Students at a primary school in Bangkok wear masks during their morning arrangement as air pollution levels increase.
Urgent call for action
In response to the “quiet killer”, UNICEF called on governments, businesses, healthcare professionals, parents and educators to take immediate steps to reduce air pollution and protect children’s health.
Governments must enforce stronger environmental policies, transition to pure energy sources and implement air quality standards in line with WHO guidelines, together with companies should adopt cleaner technologies, reduce emissions and ensure that their practice prioritizes childhood security.
Parents and teachers also have a crucial role in raising awareness, advocating for cleaning environments and giving young people the opportunity to intervene, highlighted UNICEF.
There are solutions
Furthermore, UNICEF collaborates with governments, businesses and communities on more initiatives to reduce children’s exposure to air pollution.
These include pushing for stronger environmental regulations, improving air quality monitoring by installing affordable sensors and implementing programs to reduce household air pollution, such as cleaner cooking ovens and better ventilation.
The Agency is also working to strengthen health care systems to better diagnose and treat pollution -related diseases and support young people to become advocates of pure air, create awareness and press for stronger policies.
“Addressing air pollution will lead to huge improvements in children’s health, education and well -being with rippling effects over the whole community and economies,“Mrs. Kunugi emphasized.
“There are solutions and our collective future depends on implementing them.“
