In 2021, nearly 170,000 children under the age of five died in India due to air pollution, according to the State of Global Air report. This report was released on Wednesday and is based on data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.
Despite some progress, many young children continue to die from air pollution, especially in regions like South Asia and parts of Africa. The report highlights that air pollution is linked to severe health issues in young children, including pneumonia and lower respiratory tract infections. These infections are responsible for one in five child deaths globally. Asthma, a common chronic respiratory disease in older children, and is also associated with air pollution.
In South Asia, the death rate from air pollution for children under five is 164 deaths per 100,000 children, compared to the global average of 108 deaths per 100,000. The countries with the highest numbers of air pollution-related child deaths in 2021 were India (169,400 deaths), Nigeria (114,100 deaths), Pakistan (68,100 deaths), Ethiopia (31,100 deaths), and Bangladesh (19,100 deaths).
Children are especially vulnerable to air pollution. The report explains that damage from air pollution can start even before birth. Children breathe more air relative to their body weight than adults and absorb more pollutants because their bodies, lungs, and brains are still developing. Health issues caused by air pollution include premature birth, low birth weight, asthma, and other lung diseases. In South Asia, air pollution was linked to over 260,600 deaths of children under five in 2021, making it the second leading risk factor for death after malnutrition.
Globally, air pollution from fine particles (PM2.5) and ozone contributed to 8.1 million deaths in 2021, which is about 12% of the total deaths that year. PM2.5 is the most significant contributor, causing around 7.8 million deaths, which accounts for over 90% of the air pollution-related disease burden.
India and China, with populations over 1 billion each, accounted for 54% of the global disease burden from air pollution, with India experiencing 2.1 million deaths and China 2.3 million deaths. Other countries with high numbers of air pollution-related deaths include Pakistan (256,000 deaths), Myanmar (101,600 deaths), and Bangladesh (236,300 deaths).
The report indicates that 2021 saw the highest number of deaths linked to air pollution compared to any previous year. Despite improvements in maternal and child health, almost 2,000 children under five die daily due to air pollution, according to UNICEF deputy executive director Kitty van der Heijden.
“Our inaction is having profound effects on the next generation, with lifelong health and wellbeing impacts. The global urgency is undeniable. It is imperative that governments and businesses consider these estimates and locally available data to take meaningful, child-focused action to reduce air pollution and protect children’s health,” said Heijden.
The report acknowledges some progress since 2000. The death rate for children under five linked to air pollution has dropped by 53%. This improvement is largely due to better access to clean energy for cooking, healthcare facility, nutrition, and increased awareness about the dangers of household air pollution.
The Health Effects Institute (HEI), an independent non-profit research organization based in the US, released the report. HEI found that air pollution was the second-highest risk factor for death globally in 2021, surpassing tobacco and poor diet, and following high blood pressure.
Dr. GC Khilnani, Chairman of the PSRI Institute of Pulmonary Critical Care and a member of the WHO expert group on global air pollution and health, emphasized the severe impact of air pollution on children. “The data is staggering but not alarming. Most often, the damage due to air pollution starts when children are in the womb. We know, for example, in Delhi, one in three children have asthma. Air pollution can lead to two main issues among children – asthma, which is non-communicable, and a high incidence of lung infections attributable to air pollution, which leads to high mortality. Children have smaller lungs but breathe faster, making them very vulnerable, like the elderly,” said Dr. Khilnani.
The report underscores the urgent need for action to combat air pollution and protect the health of children. While there have been improvements, the high number of deaths among young children due to air pollution remains a critical issue. Governments and businesses must prioritize reducing air pollution to ensure a healthier future for the next generation.