New analysis by UNICEF reveals the staggering impact of toxic air on millions of children, urging immediate action to protect their health and future.
New analysis by UNICEF reveals the staggering impact of toxic air on millions of children, urging immediate action to protect their health and future. Naming it a “silent killer”, the UN body said over 100 daily deaths of children under five are linked to air pollution in East Asia and the Pacific.
In a statement released today, February 6, the organisation noted that air pollution peaks in many parts of the region during the dry season from now until April.
According to the analysis, 500 million children in East Asia and the Pacific live in countries with unhealthy levels of air pollution. At a household level, air pollution, caused by solid fuels used for cooking and heating, is linked to more than half of all air pollution-related deaths in children under five.
“Meanwhile, 325 million children live in countries where average annual particulate matter (PM2.5) levels exceed WHO guideline levels by more than five times, and 373 million live in countries with unhealthy levels if nitrogen dioxide (NO₂),” it said.
In addition, 91 per cent – or 453 million – children in the region live in countries where ozone pollution exceeds WHO guideline levels. Nearly half of the PM2.5 in countries with the highest levels of this pollutant came from the burning of fossil fuel, biomass fuel and agriculture waste, which also generate the greenhouse gases driving climate change.
“The air they breathe, at a time when their bodies and minds are still developing, too often contains unhealthy levels of pollution that can comprise their growth, harm their lungs and impair their cognitive development,” said June Kunugi, UNICEF regional director for East Asia and the Pacific.
Air pollution causes nearly one in four deaths of children under five in East Asia and the Pacific, affecting their health from birth onward. It increases risks of premature birth, asthma, lung damage and developmental delays, especially for children in low-income families. It also contributes to chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease.
It also causes economic impacts. According to the World Bank, in 2019, air pollution from PM2.5 led to premature deaths and illnesses that cost East Asia and the Pacific 9.3% of its GDP, amounting to over $2.5 trillion.
“Governments must lead by strengthening climate and environmental policies, transitioning to clean energy and enforcing WHO-aligned air quality standards to protect children’s health,” it recommended, adding that businesses should adopt clean technologies, reduce emissions and ensure their practices and products prioritise the safety and well-being of children.
“The health sector should take measures to improve detection and treatment, and adopt sustainable, net-zero operations,” it said, urging parents and educators to play a role in raising awareness, advocating for cleaner environments and empowering young people to take action.
“UNICEF is partnering with governments, businesses, health systems, and communities across East Asia and the Pacific to protect children from the devastating effects of air pollution,” added the UNICEF statement.
