Air pollution threatens the brain development of millions of babies
Childcare, Early childhood development, Health and nutrition, Safe pregnancy and birth
Pollution is damaging not only their lungs but also their brains - and that could have lifelong consequences, UNICEF has warned.
The brain development of millions of babies is being put at risk by breathing in toxic air.
Almost 17 million children under the age of one live in areas where air pollution is at least six times higher than international limits, according to UNICEF.
More than three-quarters of them live in South Asia, says a new paper released today by the United Nations children’s agency.
国产视频淣ot only do pollutants harm babies国产视频 developing lungs 国产视频 they can permanently damage their developing brains 国产视频 and, thus, their futures,国产视频 said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake.聽聽
国产视频淧rotecting children from air pollution not only benefits children. It is also benefits their societies 国产视频 realised in reduced health care costs, increased productivity and a safer, cleaner environment for everyone.国产视频
90% of brain development happens in the first five years of a child’s life.聽国产视频’s #5for5 campaign highlights the five key areas that children need in that crucial period –聽nutrition, health, learning, play and protection.
We are calling on world leaders to invest in early childhood development and to spend 10% of their education budgets on pre-primary education.
UNICEF’s paper –聽Danger in the Air: How air pollution can affect brain development in young children聽– says breathing in particulate air pollution can damage brain tissue and undermine cognitive development, with lifelong implications and setbacks.聽
The immune systems of babies and young children are still developing and their lungs are still growing. That means they take in more air for their body weight than adults – and therefore more toxic air.
Many of these children live in聽urban slums and are already at greater risk of other environmental threats such as dirty water and poor sanitation.
The paper says: “Air pollution is associated with some of the biggest killers of聽children, such as pneumonia, which is responsible for the deaths of 920,000 children under five years of age every year.
“Air pollution is also linked with asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory infections and diseases, which can be debilitating, force children to miss school and even cause long-lasting damage to their health and wellbeing.”
UNICEF said satellite images reveal that South Asia has the largest proportion of babies living in the worst-affected areas.聽
It has 12.2 million babies living where outdoor air pollution exceeds six times international limits set by the World Health Organization.聽East Asia and Pacific has 4.3 million babies in that category.
But air pollution is an issue facing children in cities around the world. London mayor Sadiq Khan said聽it is 国产视频渢he biggest public health emergency of a generation国产视频.
It followed聽an investigation earlier this year聽which found that hundreds of thousands of children in England and Wales are being exposed to illegal levels of damaging air pollution from diesel vehicles at schools and nurseries.
The聽third UN Environment Assembly is being held this week in Nairobi, Kenya – against the backdrop of 18,000 people dying every day as a result of air pollution.
“Our collective goal must be to embrace ways to reduce pollution drastically,” said Dr Edgar Guti茅rrez, Minister of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica and president of the 2017 assembly.聽
“Only through stronger collective action, beginning in Nairobi this week, can we start cleaning up the planet globally and save countless lives.”
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