UNICEF: 1 in 10 children under five die due to pollution
Q. According to UNICEF, indoor and outdoor pollution has been directly linked to respiratory diseases for how many deaths under five?- Published on 01 Nov 16a. 2 in 4
b. 3 in 5
c. 1 in 10
d. None of the above
ANSWER: 1 in 10
A report by UNICEF has confirmed that bad air is contributing to the death of many children before they have even celebrated their fifth birthday.
- Outdoor and indoor pollution are directly linked to respiratory diseases that account for almost 1 in 10 under five deaths, making pollution one of the leading dangers in the world.
- Children are more susceptible to air pollution as their lungs, brains and immune systems are still developing and their respiratory tracks are more permeable.
- Young children also breathe faster than adults and taken in more air relative to the body weight.
- Around two billion children live in areas where outdoor air pollution caused by factors such as vehicular emissions, heavy use of fossil fuels, dust and waste burning exceeds minimum air quality guidelines set up by WHO.
- South Asia has the largest number of children living in these areas at 620 million, with Africa following at 520 million children.
- The findings come ahead of the COP22 in Morocco where UNICEF is calling on world leaders to take urgent action to cut air pollution.
