UNICEF has released a new report, indicating that air pollution is one of the major factors in infant deaths worldwide. According to the fund, of every seven children on the planet inhales daily six times more toxins, than is allowed by international regulations and standards.
“Air pollution is a major contributing factor in the deaths of around 600,000 children under five every year – and it threatens the lives and futures of millions more every day,”said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake.
Air pollution not only contributes for “almost one in 10 of all deaths of children under the age of five,” but harms lungs and brains development of the children, depriving them of the future. According to the report, since children do breathe twice as quickly as adults, and take more air relative to their weight, they are way more permeable and vulnerable to inhaled toxins, than adults.
“Pollutants don’t only harm children’s developing lungs – they can actually cross the blood-brain barrier and permanently damage their developing brains – and, thus, their futures. No society can afford to ignore air pollution,” Lake stressed.